PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ON THOMPSON HILL (CPA 2022-0005) THREATENS PANORAMIC HEIGHTS & SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS

9.1.2022KENNEWICK PLANNING COMMISSIONNOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING September 19, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.
The Kennewick Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing on Monday, September 19, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. or as soon as possible thereafter, to receive public comment/testimony on the below Comprehensive Plan Amendment. Staff will be presenting analysis and the Planning Commission will make a recommendation to City Council on the item. The public hearing will be conducted in a hybrid setting which will allow interested parties to participate in person or virtually.
 
To participate virtually in the Public Hearing (virtual registration begins on Sept. 8th) use this link: https://www.go2kennewick.com/598/Planning-Commission.
 
Project# CPA-2022-0005 : To change the land use designation of 4.31acres from Low Density Residential to High Density Residential and change 33.93 acres from Low Density Residential to Medium Density Residential. The proposal is located at 2701 and 2711 S Sherman Street. See site map here.
 
 
Questions or written comments may be addressed to Steve Donovan and submitted to steve.donovan@ci.kennewick.wa.us or mailed to PO Box 6108, Kennewick, WA 99336.The City of Kennewick welcomes full participation in public meeting by all citizens. No qualified individual with a disability shall be excluded or denied the benefit of participating in such meetings. If you wish to use auxiliary aids or require assistance to comment at this public hearing, please contact Steve Donovan at (509) 585-4361 or TDD (509) 585-4425 or through the Washington Relay Service Center TTY at #711 at least ten days prior to the date of the meeting to make arrangements for special needs
 

Key Dates:

  • Written comments on the entire Proposal by Thursday, September 15th
  • Public hearing before the Planning Commission on September 19th at  6:30PM
  • Final written comments to the City Council by September 30 (tentative)
  • City Council decision on October 4 (tentative)

Update 8.3.22

8.3.2022 – The Applicant for changing the Land Use Designation for 40 acres on and near the top of Thompson Hill has recently provided a Conceptual Design for a development called “Citadel South Estates”. Although this concept does not constraint the extent of future development if High and Medium Density developments are allowed, it provides some insight into the Applicant’s latest proposal. Click here to view.
 
This Conceptual Design shows a future site on the top of the hill for a hotel. In the past, the Applicant stated this could have about 100 rooms. The Conceptual Design also includes 12 large buildings for multi-family housing units from the ridgeline down the south side to the old irrigation canal and the existing City water tank. The Applicant has told the City Staff this would allow for 360 condominiums.
 
However, as required by the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), the Applicant has failed to discuss this proposed future uses in the SEPA Checklist, nor identified the potential impacts and proposed mitigation measures. Therefore, the Application remains incomplete and should be rejected outright by the City Staff, Planning Commission and City Council.
 

Update 8.1.2022

8.1.2022 – The public hearing on the proposed change to the Land Use Designation for Thompson Hill has been delayed from August 15. This is because the City staff agreed with many written concerns that the application was incomplete. The Applicant failed to address the obvious impacts of changing the Land Use Designation from Low Density Residential to Medium and High Density Residential.  The public hearing could now occur as soon as August 22. Check back often for public hearing date updates.
 

Update 7.19.2022

7.19.2022 -The Planning Commission will have a workshop for the 2022 Comprehensive Plan Amendments on Monday August 1st at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall. The workshop will also be available to watch online. Links to view the workshop will be posted to the Planning Commission webpage on the City’s Website prior to August 1st. No comments or questions will be taken from the public or applicants at the workshop. The Planning Commission will only ask questions of staff at the workshop.

The Panoramic Heights Homeowners Association (PHHA) requests  ALL NEIGHBORHOOD CITIZENS in and around Thompson Hill to to express your concerns regarding the latest proposal for a development which could threaten the future livability of all neighborhoods in and around Thompson Hill.

YOUR ACTION IS NEEDED!

What you can do:

  • Send your written comments about entire proposal directly to Steve Donovan (who will forward them to the Planning Commissioners) & all 7 City Council Members no later than September 15th, 2022, (see “CONTACT CITY COUNCIL INFO”  button located on this page).
  • Call or visit City Council Members and share your concerns no later than September 30th, 2022.
  • Answer the Questionnaire by clicking the “Complete our Questionnaire” button located on this page.
  • Get involved, share your concerns with your neighbors and your community HOA Board Members.
  • Verbal comments will be taken at the public hearing tentatively set for September 19th.  Plan on speaking.
  • Talk to your friends, family and neighbors who live in the Southridge Area.  Share this information with them. Encourage them complete the above mentioned action items.
We encourage you to complete all or some of the action items above. 
Please check back often to see current/updated information about this proposal.
Thank you!

 

Need the Model Letter in WORD Format? Complete & Submit this form:

Thank you for participating in this critical decision that could impact all of the Southridge Area.
 
Bill Dixon, Panoramic Heights Team Leader

DOCUMENTS: 

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