Pasco home for sex-trafficking victims gets initial approval. It would be the state’s first

A project aimed at helping sexually exploited teen girls got a green light from Franklin County planning commissioners this week, even as opponents promised to keep fighting it.

Planning Commission member Melinda Didier was the tie-breaking vote to allow the Mirror Ministries project near the Columbia River.

The Franklin County commissioners have the final say on the project that would convert a house, barn and kennel into a restoration center for the sex trafficking survivors.

The nonprofit has a contract to buy nearly eight acres north of Pasco to build the first center of its kind in the state.

The faith-based organization has spent about 10 years researching restoration centers across the country. When the three phases are finished, the property is expected to have three homes, where 18 teenage girls will live, take classes and heal.

A group of neighbors called the project a great idea, but felt it wasn’t suited for their neighborhood.

They were concerned it would make the neighborhood less safe, and that Mirror Ministries was going to be allowed to do something no one else would be allowed on the same property.

Three commissioners — Layton Lowe, Kent McMullen and Roger Lenk — sided with the property owners following a contentious meeting in February.

Three others — Claude Pierret, Mike Corrales and Mike Vincent — sided with Mirror Ministries, leaving the project in limbo until they could meet this month.

Didier, who is County Commissioner Clint Didier’s sister, missed the February meeting.

But she said this week she felt comfortable with voting on the issue because she had read the documents, listened to the meeting and visited the proposed location of the treatment center.

No one objected to her participating in the vote.

Next steps

Both sides brought a sizable crowd to Tuesday’s commission meeting which was moved into the historic courtroom on the second floor to allow more people to attend.

After taking public comments for two hours last month, no more comments were allowed this week.

It could take another four to five weeks before the proposal reaches Franklin County commissioners for a final decision.

The commissioners are likely to review the planning commission decision sometime in April or May. The opponents also have until March 21 to appeal the decision to the county commissioners.

One of opponents, KyLee Shumway, said on Facebook it’s OK that the measure passed because they can appeal and they believe they can convince the county commissioners to deny the permit.

If the commissioners agree to allow the permit, the homeowners can take their appeal to Franklin County Superior Court.

Executive Director Tricia MacFarlan told the Herald on Wednesday that Mirror Ministries members gathered Monday to pray for a favorable outcome.

“There were a lot of people that were praying with us,” she said.

She said the program for sex trafficking survivors would be licensed by the state, but Mirror Ministries would decide who is accepted into the program.

The girls will be surrounded by a therapeutic environment all of the day and be under constant care, she said. They will go to school on site and have have access to more counseling than they normally would.

“We’re obviously glad that it passed. We are looking forward to the county commissioners meeting,” MacFarlan said. “We’re looking forward to being there and to being good neighbors.”