Council adopts emergency comprehensive plan and rezoning ordinances addressing RS20/RS15 inconsistencies

Pasco's City Council adopted two related emergency ordinances, No. 4827 and No. 4828, to correct inconsistencies between the comprehensive plan and the RS20 zoning designation and to modify densities in affected areas.

Planning staff explained the action was intended to resolve a technical conflict: the comp plan had indicated a different allowed density range than RS20 permitted. Staff said the amendment reduces the comp-plan density range and replaces RS20 with a new RS15 classification for the affected areas; three additional parcels were incorporated into the change after public outreach to neighboring property owners. Miss Matson told the council the change reduced allowable density at the edges and that the Planning Commission had processed the matter and notification was provided to neighbors.

Separate but related, the council adopted Ordinance 4829 to incorporate the Pasco School District No. 1's 2025 capital facilities plan update into the city comprehensive plan by addendum.

All three ordinances were adopted following staff presentations and required hearings or findings; there were no public speakers at the council public hearings on these items.

Why it matters: The ordinances adjust land-use designations and zoning to align long-range planning documents with the city's intended lot-size and density controls. Staff said the changes were largely technical but affect development parameters for the parcels involved.

What's next: Staff will implement map and code changes consistent with the adopted ordinances and process any development applications under the new RS15 standard for the identified parcels.