Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
West Richland holds first reading on Lewis and Clark Ranch plan as residents praise housing potential and raise water and density concerns
Loading...
Summary
City staff presented the Lewis and Clark Ranch subarea plan and planned‑action EIS (Phase 1 ~770 acres) at a public hearing. The planning commission recommended approval; public comment was largely supportive of housing supply but raised questions about water supply, density, and potential impacts. Final action is scheduled for the May 5 council meeting.
City planning staff gave an extended presentation and opened a public hearing on the Lewis and Clark Ranch subarea plan and associated planned‑action environmental review, describing a multi‑decade, large‑scale framework for growth and the steps the city would use to mitigate impacts.
Community Development Director Eric Mendenhall told the council the application from Frank Tiggs LLC (filed in 2021) would change land use designations across the ranch. He said the full holding covers roughly 7,600 acres while Phase 1 encompasses about 770 acres intended to accommodate approximately 20 years of growth. The final EIS was issued April 16; staff said the city received 47 public and agency comment letters on the draft EIS and that the planning commission unanimously recommended the package for council action.
Casey, a consultant with Burke Consulting, summarized the four documents before the council: the subarea plan (policy guidance), a new subarea code to implement the plan, a memo with comprehensive plan and code amendments to ensure internal consistency, and a planned‑action ordinance (PAO). The PAO would allow streamlined permitting for qualifying Phase 1 projects and includes criteria, mitigation measures (Exhibit B), a transportation projects list (Exhibit D) and ‘‘capacity checkpoints’’ to trigger further study of water, sewer, traffic and school impacts as development proceeds.
Several members of the public spoke during the hearing. Andrew, CEO of the Tri City Association of Realtors, said the plan ‘‘provides a 100‑year framework’’ and praised its potential to deliver meaningful housing supply and coordinated infrastructure. April Connors, a local realtor and former state representative, urged the council to proceed, noting West Richland has land inside the urban growth boundary and that the plan accommodates upcoming state rules on middle housing. Other real‑estate professionals and residents (Ken Pilecki and others) also voiced support, saying the plan would create housing variety and long‑term certainty for builders and buyers.
Speakers who raised concerns focused on water, density and community character. Michael Aldrich asked how water would be secured given long‑term river and reservoir pressures. Harry Mays said he feared growth could erode West Richland’s small‑town character and expressed safety concerns tied to higher density. Council members and staff acknowledged those concerns and said project‑level reviews and the PAO’s mitigation measures would be used to evaluate water, habitat and transportation impacts.
Applicant representative Jordan Tiggs said the family that owns the property has worked closely with city staff and that the plan reflects their goals while addressing obligations for infrastructure mitigation.
Because this meeting was a first reading, there was no council action on the plan. Councilmember Eric (Community Development) and staff said the proposal will be returned to council for final action on May 5.
— Reported from the West Richland City Council meeting
