Kennewick council adopts six-month moratorium on siting of 'less restrictive alternative' facilities

Kennewick — The Kennewick City Council on June 16 adopted an emergency ordinance imposing a six‑month moratorium on the siting of secure less restrictive alternative (LRA) facilities that would house civilly committed violent predators.

Planning staff, led by Lisa Beaton, told the council the moratorium responds to an identified inconsistency between the city’s comprehensive plan and its land‑use code about whether these secure residences are treated as essential public facilities. Beaton said the pause will allow staff time to draft comp‑plan and code amendments and to consider zoning districts and performance standards before new placements are allowed. "We have the authority under state statute to adopt an emergency moratorium and take the time to review amendments to our comp plan and code," Beaton said.

Mayor Pro Tem Torelli moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Anderson seconded. After councilmembers asked clarifying questions about duration and notice, the council voted unanimously to adopt the moratorium. The ordinance takes immediate effect and sets a public hearing within 60 days — scheduled for July 21 — where staff will present a proposed work plan and the public may testify on retaining, repealing or extending the moratorium.

Council members sought assurances about the moratorium’s limits and possible extensions. Beaton said state law allows an initial emergency moratorium and may permit extensions if the council provides justification; she also explained that statutory notice to cities is imperfect and that prior placements may require court involvement to challenge. The staff report anticipates using the moratorium period to reconcile the comp plan with the city code and to propose where such facilities, if allowed, could be sited and what performance or land‑use restrictions would apply.

Councilmember Clippard said he supported measures that ensure community safety, adding that "some level of safety is not enough for me" and that the city should pursue whatever steps are necessary to protect residents. Multiple councilmembers thanked staff for the analysis and emphasized a deliberate approach rather than a rushed fix.

Next steps: staff will prepare the draft comp‑plan and code amendments and present them at the July 21 public hearing. The ordinance allows the council to extend the moratorium if additional time is justified under state law.