City staff on Thursday laid out a proposed fix to a comp‑plan/zoning conflict in Pasco’s Riverview area and framed the change as an interim step ahead of a state‑mandated middle‑housing rollout.

Haley Mattson, community and economic development director, told the Planning Commission that a 2023 comp‑plan change increased allowable land‑use density in parts of the city, creating a mismatch with the RS‑20 zoning, which currently allows roughly 2 units per acre because of a 20,000‑square‑foot minimum lot size. That conflict, staff said, has stopped some applicants from moving forward.

Mattson described staff’s proposal to create a low‑density Riverview land‑use designation permitting 2–5 units per acre for properties now zoned RS‑20, then follow with a code amendment to rename the zoning category (proposed RS‑9) and set a minimum lot size of about 8,700 square feet. "We would change the entire zone," Mattson said, arguing the approach avoids leaving a single outlier RS‑20 zone in the code.

Staff emphasized utility and health constraints: properties far from city sewer may need septic systems, and county health standards limit septic‑based development (staff noted that higher densities would require sewer connection). Mattson noted developers favor the proposed range because allowing up to 2 units per acre preserves septic options in the near term while the city works on sewer extension plans.

Mattson also warned of a state requirement coming next year that will force cities to allow middle‑housing types. "By the end of next year, any lot that is zoned for primarily residential uses... will be required to allow up to 6 middle housing units per lot regardless of where you're located," she told the commission, summarizing state law that defines middle housing to include duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhomes and cottage housing.

Commissioners raised practical concerns about reducing lot sizes and increasing density. Commissioner Handler questioned parking and emergency‑vehicle access, saying tighter lots could create problems for garbage trucks and fire access. Mattson acknowledged those concerns and said the city will study parking, setbacks and safety as part of middle‑housing implementation.

Some commissioners voiced principled opposition to following state mandates. Staff cautioned that noncompliance with the Growth Management Act could jeopardize eligibility for state grants used to fund local infrastructure, making a blanket refusal to follow the law risky.

The commission agreed to hold a public hearing in December; staff proposed December 18 as the target date and said they will include public comments and further technical detail in the staff report. No action was taken at the workshop.

Next steps: staff will publish notice for the December public hearing, refine the staff report with utility and parking analysis, and present recommended code changes if the hearing record supports them.