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Wednesday, Dec. 03, 2008

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Richland council changes plans for Keene Road land

By Michelle Dupler, Herald staff writer

RICHLAND -- The Richland City Council on Tuesday voted in a split decision to change the land use designation for a parcel at Keene Road and Queensgate Drive but unanimously voted against rezoning the land.

The vote was the second taken on a controversial proposal to reclassify 48 acres from low-density residential to commercial and medium-density residential, and zone 12.5 acres for neighborhood commercial development.

More than 300 homeowners living nearby signed a petition opposing the plan because they fear commercial development will bring traffic and noise to their neighborhood and drive down their property values.

Rick Foreman, a homeowner living on Lariat Lane in the Country Ridge development, spoke to the council for several minutes Tuesday night attempting to rebut the city planning staff's arguments in favor of the zoning change.

But Mayor John Fox cut him off and asked him to submit his comments in writing so the council could read and digest his arguments, despite Foreman's pleas that he be allowed to continue since the council was set to take a vote later in the night.

Less than an hour later, Fox and council members Bob Thompson, Rita Mazur and Ed Revell voted to approve the comprehensive plan amendments Foreman opposed.

Council members David Rose and Sandra Kent opposed the comprehensive plan change, saying they thought the city should wait before making a decision it couldn't take back.

Thompson argued the best way to make sure the land gets developed in a way that the neighbors can live with is through zoning, which can put more specific limitations on how a piece of land can be used than the more broad designations in the comprehensive plan.

The council as a whole agreed that more consideration should be given to how the land should be zoned.

Foreman and other homeowners are represented by Kennewick lawyer John Ziobro, who has suggested the city could face litigation over the decision. Ziobro claimed the city hasn't followed proper procedures in changing the comprehensive plan.

Also Tuesday, the council:

-- Adopted without discussion its $252 million 2009 budget, including a $51 million general operating fund budget that includes no major changes in services.

-- Heard a report from Energy Services Director Ray Sieler on a proposed 8 percent electricity rate credit for residential customers. The council will approve the credit at a meeting in January.

-- Had public hearings on a proposed local improvement district at Saint Street and Stevens Drive to extend sewer service to commercial properties; a proposal to vacate part of Bradley Boulevard; and on two union agreements. Decision will be made in January.

* Michelle Dupler: 582-1543; mdupler@tricityherald.com



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