Planning commission forwards four rezones to city council, flags mural oversight on downtown project

The Washington City Planning Commission voted March 4 to recommend approval of four separate rezoning applications to the city council, moving items to the council calendar for March 25 after the next council meeting was canceled for lack of quorum.

Staff member Elden introduced the most-discussed item, Z-26-01, a request from MRW Design and Associates to rezone approximately 0.30 acres at 127 East Telegraph from C2 to a downtown mixed-use designation for a two-story, 4,848-square-foot professional office building with 19 parking spaces and a five-foot front setback. The proposal includes a placeholder for a large mural on the building’s west elevation. “This will go on to city council,” Elden said while recommending the commission forward the zone change with the findings in the staff report.

Commissioners asked how the project fits the city’s downtown vision and whether the aesthetic echoes nearby contemporary office buildings; Elden said it is compatible. Commissioner Mitchell asked directly if the mural would depict “Bob Ross”; staff replied the mural would not depict Bob Ross and that final artwork had not been determined. Multiple commissioners urged that the commission’s recommendation include a note requesting city council oversight or coordination on mural content and placement, given the mural’s visibility from major cross streets.

The commission opened the public hearing for Z-26-01. Resident Dustin Davis, who said he lives directly north of the site, asked about the appearance of the rear elevation and raised privacy concerns for his backyard and children because second‑floor windows would look toward his property. Elden replied the second floor would include windows, and the building sits roughly 43 feet from the property line, with parking and a driveway between the building and the neighboring yard.

Commissioner Davis moved to recommend approval of Z-26-01, adding a recommendation that city council and appropriate bodies provide oversight of exterior art and mural treatment; the motion passed unanimously in recorded voice votes.

The commission also recommended approval of Z-26-02, an amendment to the Aliia planned community development (PCD) to formally designate a one‑acre evaporation pond at the north end of the site and reallocate half an acre of open space to other pods so the overall open‑space requirement remains met. Staff said the pond will receive discharge from an approved recreational lagoon and that the zoning amendment clarifies the pond’s commercial association; no members of the public spoke on the item and the recommendation passed unanimously.

Z-26-03, a request to rezone about 9.49 acres at 4090 South Washington Fields Road from A20 to C2 to allow a commercial development intended to provide day‑to‑day goods for nearby residents, was recommended to council by motion and unanimous recorded vote. Staff noted that, if approved by council, the applicant will return for conditional-use permitting with site-specific details.

Z-26-04, a technical reallocation of R18 and PUDR product types near Smith Creek Drive and Bear Trap Canyon Drive to match approved residential product types and lot sizing, was likewise recommended to council with no public comment.

Staff told the commission the next city council meeting had been canceled for lack of quorum due to spring break; the four items will be on the March 25 city council agenda and applicants will be notified. The planning commission adjourned, recessed briefly, then the land-use authority met only to approve its agenda and minutes before adjourning.

Votes at a glance Z-26-01 (127 E. Telegraph) — Motion to forward to city council with staff findings and added recommendation for mural oversight. Mover: Commissioner Davis. Second: Commissioner Anderson. Recorded votes: Commissioner Anderson — yes; Commissioner Davis — yes; Commissioner Yur — yes; Presiding commissioner (filling in for Chair Bulock) — yes. Outcome: recommended to city council.

Z-26-02 (Aliia PCD, evaporation pond) — Motion to forward as proposed. Mover: Commissioner Yur. Second: Commissioner Davis. Recorded votes: unanimous. Outcome: recommended to city council.

Z-26-03 (4090 S. Washington Fields Road) — Motion to forward as proposed. Mover: Commissioner Anderson. Second: Commissioner Yur. Recorded votes: unanimous. Outcome: recommended to city council.

Z-26-04 (Smith Creek Drive / Bear Trap Canyon Drive) — Motion to forward as proposed. Mover: Commissioner Davis. Second: Commissioner Yur. Recorded votes: unanimous. Outcome: recommended to city council.

What’s next The commission’s recommendations will go to the Washington City Council on March 25, 2026, after applicants are notified.