Neighbors upset after scenic Tri-Cities orchard torn out for 200+ new homes
The Kennewick City Council agreed this week to rezone a former 38-acre orchard that will soon be home to hundreds of houses.
The new “Low Density” zone at 4501 S. Olympia St. allows the developer to build those single-family homes on a smaller minimum lot size of 5,500 square feet. The previous “Suburban” designation allowed for minimum sizes of 8,000 square feet.
The change in zoning will allow for more flexible use of the land for the future Pringle Heights subdivision, and would encourage density that matches nearby properties to the north, east and west. Multifamily units or apartments are not allowed in the new zone.
The property is south of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church.
It’s owned by Big Sky North LLC, a Pasco developer that purchased the property in January for $7.2 million. The applicant is Harpster Land Development.
Pringle Heights will include 215 single-family lots, said Peter Harpster, owner of Harpster Land Development. He’s the former Pasco councilman who served 21 months before moving his family outside the city.
No formal subdivision plans, plats or permits have been submitted to the city yet. A preliminary plan to include town houses and duplexes was scrapped, Harpster said.
The city originally annexed the site in June 2007, and the property was zoned agriculture. It was rezoned for residential use in 2018. The orchard was removed this year in preparation for development.
Several residents opposed the change in zoning or project scope at a March 16 public hearing before the Kennewick Planning Commission. Neighbors had concerns with the small lot sizes, changing neighborhood dynamics, and wanting to keep the orchard area rural.
Sarah Wright, who has lived at a home across from the orchard for more than four decades, said she was worried about more traffic congestion and speeding, especially with cyclists and walkers in the neighborhood.
She’s worried, but not opposed to the zone change.
“Homes have been going up all around us in 44 years, and (I) understand but do not have to like it,” she wrote.
Bonneville Power Administration, Kennewick Irrigation District, Benton PUD and Columbia Irrigation District had no objections to the zone change prior to a state determination of nonsignificance. Property values will not be impacted by the zone change.
The city council passed the zone change in unanimous fashion, 6-0, with little discussion. Councilman John Trumbo was absent from the meeting.
