MATTAWA — Mattawa City Council members will make a decision on Oct. 6 regarding a proposal to annex 40.5 acres of land near Wahluke High School into the city limits. The proposed annexation was the subject of a public hearing Thursday.

“This proposal includes acreage that will be zoned for residential (use), and then there will be subdivision and residential components in the future if the applicant is successful in their annexation,” said Rachelle Bradley of SCJ Alliance, the city’s planners.

The applicant, CAD Homes of Moses Lake, has announced a tentative plan to develop single-family and multifamily housing on the property. The first phase would include about 26 acres.

Bradley presented the results of an analysis of the proposal by SCJ staff.

Bradley said the land is zoned as residential by Grant County, and adjoining county properties also are zoned as residential. It adjoins the Mattawa city limits on its south end, and that section of the adjoining city property also is zoned for residential.

“This proposal is also consistent with the comprehensive plan for the city,” Bradley said.

The city has enough water connections to accommodate the project, she said.

“There’s little to no impact to water and sewer services anticipated because there are (utility) tie-ins that are available along Priest Rapids Drive within a reasonable proximity to the property,” Bradley said.

City and state agencies were asked for comments on the plan as part of the review process. The city’s engineers said the development would have to meet municipal standards for utilities, and a traffic study would be required. State officials said the property would have to be examined by an outside archeologist to determine if there are sites of archeological significance.

“(The comments) address the future potential development of the site, but they don’t have any concerns about the actual annexation of the property,” Bradley said.

“There’s no direct impact on transportation infrastructure as of now, but there is a concern about future housing development and its proximity to the Wahluke School District. So traffic impact analysis will be necessary before development of the site, at the time of the development application, but not as a component of the annexation application,” she said.

The project received letters of support from the Port of Mattawa, the Grant County Commissioners, the Grant County Economic Development Council, the Wahluke School District and the Evans Fruit Company, a local orchard. No one spoke against the proposal.

Gil Alvarado, planner for the Port of Mattawa, spoke in favor of the application, citing the city’s need for additional housing.

If the council approves the next step would be the start of the environmental impact review process, Bradley said.

Cheryl Schweizer may be reached at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com. Read more local news on our website our our app - available for both iOS and Android devices.