NOTICE OF APPLICATION/SEPA DETERMINATION (Optional DNS Process) Si necesita ayuda para entender este aviso o necesita más información, por favor llame al Departamento de Desarrollo Comunitario y Económico de la Ciudad de Pasco a 509-545-3441. SEPA Comment Period Deadline: December 30, 2025 Proposal: On April 17, 2023, the City adopted Ordinance No. 4663, which amended PMC 25.215.015 and the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Density Table (Table LU-1). The ordinance updated allowable gross densities for Low Density Residential (LDR) zoning districts from 2–5 dwelling units per acre to 3–6 dwelling units per acre and required that all new development meet the minimum density standards in PMC 25.215.015. In the R-S-20 zone, with a minimum lot size of 20,000 square feet, a one-acre lot can accommodate only two dwelling units, effectively creating a moratorium on small-lot development. Several requests from property owners to divide land in this zone have been denied for not meeting density requirements. To address this issue, the Planning Division has initiated an emergency Comprehensive Plan amendment. The City Council adopted a resolution initiating this amendment on November 17, 2025, and the proposal was presented to the Planning Commission as a workshop on November 20, 2025. The amendment includes a land use designation of 2–5 dwelling units per acre to provide policy guidance for low-density housing, implemented at the parcel level through zoning. Staff proposes replacing the R-S-20 zone with a new R-9 Low Density Residential District with a minimum lot size of 8,700 square feet. This change allows the zoning to support the full density range permitted by the land use designation while still accommodating larger half-acre parcels where septic systems are an option. The proposed R-9 district is intended to restore consistency, reflect infrastructure realities, and prepare the City for future statewide housing obligations. The proposed emergency amendment has been transmitted to the Washington State Department of Commerce for the required 60-day agency review. Public Comment Period: Written comments must be submitted to the Community Development Department by 5:00 p.m. on December 30, 2025. Only comments received by the referenced date will be included in the SEPA record. If you have questions on the proposal, contact the Planning Division at (509) 544-4146 or via e-mail to: barragani@pasco-wa.gov. Open Record Hearing: No public hearing is required for the SEPA review. The SEPA determination will be issued administratively by the City's SEPA Administrator. The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing for the emergency Comprehensive Plan Amendment on December 18, 2025, and final action by the City Council will be scheduled at a later date, no sooner than 60 days after November 14, 2025, in accordance with Pasco Municipal Code. Determination of Completeness: The application has been declared complete for the purpose of processing. Environmental Documents and/or Studies Applicable to this Application: Environmental Determination No. SEPA2025-036 has been assigned to this proposal. The SEPA comment period will end December 30, 2025. It is probable that a Determination of Non-Significance or Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance will be issued for this proposal (WAC 197.11.355 optional DNS process). This may be the only opportunity to comment on the environmental impacts of this proposal or to appeal any State Environmental Policy Act related decisions. Preliminary Determination of Regulations Used for Non-Project Mitigation: To evaluate the impacts of the proposed non-project, the following may be used for mitigation, consistency, and the development of findings and conclusions: Title 12 (Streets and Sidewalks), Title 16 (Buildings and Construction), Title 21 (Subdivision), Title 25 (Zoning), Title 28 (Critical Areas) regulations of the Pasco Municipal Code, and the land use policies contained in the Pasco Comprehensive Plan; Regulations of the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington State Department of Ecology, Washington State Department of Natural Resources and Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation; Other required agency evaluations, approvals, permits, and mitigations as necessary. Estimated Date of the Decision: A DNS or MDNS will be issued following the close of the comment period on December 30, 2025. To receive notification of the threshold determination and any other information concerning this action, contact the Pasco Planning Division at barragani@pasco-wa.gov or at the address and telephone number listed below. Phone: 509-544-4146 Appeals:You may appeal the subsequent threshold determination by submitting a written appeal to one of the following addresses: Email: barragani@pasco-wa.gov Physical Address: City of Pasco – Community & Economic Development Department 525 N. 3rd Avenue, First Floor Pasco, WA 99301 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 293 Pasco, WA 99301 Appeals must be submitted within 14 days of issuance of the threshold determination. The appeal must be in writing, include a concise statement identifying the matter being appealed, and provide the basic rationale for the appeal. A filing fee is required in accordance with the City's Fee Resolution. Please note: Failure to file a timely and complete appeal shall constitute a waiver of all rights to an administrative appeal under City Code. All appeals should be directed to: Haylie Matson, CED Director All comments should be directed to: Ivan Barragan, Planner III Prepared: November 24, 2025 By: Ivan Barragan