Pasco holds first public hearing on draft rules for siting least-restrictive housing and secure transition facilities

City staff presented a draft ordinance at a public hearing proposing new siting and development rules for essential public facilities (EPFs), including least-restrictive alternative housing (LRA) and secure community transition facilities (SCTFs), and asked for public and council feedback before the code returns to the council for further review.

The presentation, led by city staff, explained that state law requires municipalities to provide development regulations for EPFs and that LRAs and SCTFs fall under that category. "Essential public facilities is a term of art in the state statutes," Drew Palm said, explaining why the city cannot categorically prohibit some uses but can regulate where and how they are sited. Staff described SCTFs as state-run or state-contracted facilities with required on-site supervision and security, and community housing as privately provided, less-restrictive facilities that may have varied security and supervision.

The draft ordinance identifies a set of "risk potential activities" drawn from state law—schools, childcare, parks and houses of worship—and maps a 700-foot buffer around those sites as a starting point for where LRAs/SCTFs would be restricted. Staff noted there is a 500-foot statutory minimum for some restrictions related to child-care facilities and described 700 feet as a policy floor the city can expand upon. The moratorium on siting actions remains in effect through Aug. 17 to allow time for ordinance development and review.

Council members pressed staff on multiple fronts. Several asked whether the city can require the same operational security for privately managed community housing as the state requires for SCTFs; staff replied that operational requirements could be legally sensitive but said they would return with options on possible security or community-safety measures. Others asked staff to model larger buffers (one council member suggested 1,000 feet) and to examine whether public transit stops should be added to the risk list; staff cautioned that expanding the list or buffer distances could make it difficult to site a facility anywhere in the city and noted the Department of Commerce review and the potential for a challenge to the adopted regulation.

Members also urged staff to explore procedures for coordination with Pasco Police and Franklin County, neighborhood notification requirements, annual operational reviews, and emergency-services plans to mitigate community safety concerns. Staff said they will plug council requests into the buffer map and return with legal analysis and proposed language at a June 22 workshop, followed by another public hearing on July 6.

During the public hearing portion, members of the public strongly opposed siting LRAs/SCTFs near children and daycare facilities. Marcy Torres said the community "deserves to be kept in safety" and asked council to fight to keep schools and child-focused facilities protected; Amber Wade described personal experiences with victims and urged caution and robust mitigation if facilities are sited.

Next steps: staff will update the map and draft language, report back with analysis of buffer distances and security options at the June 22 study session, and bring a revised ordinance for another hearing on July 6. The moratorium remains set to expire on Aug. 17 unless the council takes further action.