West Richland development could bring thousands of homes and Queensgate-sized shopping area
West Richland is working on an expansion that could bring thousands of homes, plus a commercial and retail center the size of Richland’s Queensgate shopping area
It’s the first phase in a plan that could see the size of the city double over the next 50 years, using undeveloped land within the city limits.
They’re planning to kick that expansion off soon with 750 acres from the area that was once part of the Lewis and Clark Ranch.
Initial development
Businessman Frank Tiegs, who owns the Lewis and Clark Ranch land, has set aside more than 7,700 acres for development and expansion in West Richland. That land is already in city limits, but hasn’t been utilized. It’s roughly half of the 22 square-miles the city limits covers.
The 750-acre portion that will be developed first is expected to be a mix of residential and commercial development. That area is nearest Ruppert Road and Highway 224.
“We’re anticipating about 3,000 homes, single-family and multifamily, in that 750 acres. There’s also a commercial area about the same size as Queensgate (in Richland) that’s being proposed,” Community Development Director Eric Mendenhall said.
Recently the city submitted paperwork to Washington state to begin the process of shifting the 7,700 acres from “urban transition” zoning to specific use zoning districts such as residential and commercial.
Mendenhall said that as the city was looking at possibilities for the 750 acre area, it became clear they needed to look at the entire undeveloped tract in order to get a clearer picture of what future infrastructure is needed.
By doing so, they can have a plan ready to work with developers to get transit, water, sewage and other essentials into place.
How the initial 750 acres is built out will inform future growth and development plans.
“It’s very much a partnership with developers, so we are working with them and sharing costs for the planning effort and then as far as the role of infrastructure, when this all gets built out it will be on the developers to build out to carry the costs for roads, water, sewer,” he said.
Tiegs said he expects the development to follow a similar trajectory to his Red Mountain properties. He anticipates between 30 and 40 developers will participate in the expansion.
Homebuilding has exploded in recent years in West Richland due to the availability of lots ready to be built on, according to the Homebuilder’s Association of the Tri-Cities. In 2021, West Richland surpassed Kennewick in the number of permits requested for new home builds for the third most in the Tri-Cities after Richland and Pasco.
The process
The first step in the process is an environmental impact study, and a period for public comments.
The feedback period runs through March 25, with a public meeting set for 6 p.m. Thursday, March 17, at the West Richland Police Station, 7920 W. Van Giesen St., in the community room.
Mendenhall said the meeting will give the city an opportunity to discuss the long-term vision of the project, and allow residents to ask questions.
He said it’s rare for a city to have so much room to grow and that inevitably leads to concerns from neighbors.
He wants residents to know that while the city is going to expand, this isn’t a project that will happen overnight.
He said with the initial 750 acres is being viewed as a 10-year plan, while developing the entire 7,700-plus acres could take 50 to 100 years.
“West Richland has a fresh start here to grow and to plan for this. We’re really trying to look at it in a holistic way ... ,” Mendenhall said.
“We want to be taking a look at the entire piece, how it all comes together and how we plan for that as best as we can today,” he said. “Fifty years from now people could be flying around in Jetson vehicles, we just don’t know but we’re doing our best to plan ahead.”
Next steps
Once the scoping is done for the land use designations, Mendenhall said the city will host a “Public Visioning Charette” with stakeholders in May when they attempt to resolve problems and map out solutions.
Throughout the rest of the year, West Richland officials will be working on development plans, with a draft plan expected about a year from now.
After commenting on that draft plan is done, the city will move to finalize it, and have the land ready to begin being developed in Summer 2023.
This story was originally published March 15, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
