State "missing middle" rules require Pasco to allow up to four middle-housing units per lot, staff says

Planning staffer Miss Matson walked the council through the state’s middle‑housing legislation, required implementation steps and the practical consequences for Pasco. She explained the law requires Pasco — as a tier‑1 city — to permit up to four middle‑housing units per lot and described the types of allowable housing (duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, sixplexes, stacked flats, courtyard buildings and ADUs).

Matson emphasized that the mandate is based on lot‑level allowances rather than traditional units‑per‑acre metrics, which complicates local planning: "it's 4 units per lot... it's a little hard to compare apples to apples when you're used to looking at units per acre," she said. She also noted the state reduces minimum parking requirements for middle housing and allows up to six units per lot when parcels are at major transit nodes or two units are permanently affordable — conditions that currently do not broadly apply in Pasco.

Council members pressed on practical matters: whether small lots can physically accommodate four units given setbacks, parking, fire and utility easements; how to update zoning and comprehensive plan policies; and whether Riverview or other neighborhoods might seek special treatment. Matson said city staff will integrate required code and comp‑plan updates into the year’s comprehensive plan work and recommended exploring design guidelines to preserve neighborhood character while meeting legal obligations.

No formal action was taken; staff said further code work and public outreach will follow with the comprehensive plan and municipal code updates scheduled for later in the year.