The City of Pasco hearing examiner heard a contested rezone request Wednesday for properties along Road 34 near West Sylvester Street (Z2025‑003). Staff recommended rezoning two short‑plat lots from RS‑12 to R‑1 to permit low‑density residential development; several nearby residents urged the examiner to reject the change.

Staff told the hearing the application would rezone Lots 1 and 2 of Short Plat 202426 (parcel numbers 119421047 and 119421048) from RS‑12 (suburban) to R‑1 (low‑density residential). The staff presenter corrected multiple clerical errors in the draft findings of fact during the hearing, supplying the addresses involved — 617 Road 34, 609 Road 34 Units A/B, and 605 Road 34 Units A/B — and the combined site area of about 0.8 acres (34,997 square feet).

"The rezone application proposal is consistent with the council‑approved comprehensive plan," staff said, and recommended the rezoning based on the findings in the staff report. Staff also noted the site is adjacent to single‑family development and that civil, building and fire codes require adequate access, hydrants and life‑safety measures for any future development.

Applicant Robert Stutzman, who identified himself as the property owner, told the examiner the two duplexes currently under construction would be easier to sell if the lots could be separated after rezoning. "It allows me to separate these two duplexes and actually sell them to families…and not keep them as a four‑unit rental," Stutzman said, adding he had worked with staff on the project for more than a year.

More than a dozen nearby residents testified in opposition. John Hudspeth, who said he has lived in the Riverview community since 1958, asked the examiner to deny the rezoning because he said multiple duplexes would harm neighborhood character and home values. Several speakers described the intersection at Sylvester as dangerous, calling it the "Sylvester Speedway," and said increased density would worsen traffic and pedestrian safety. Kenneth Zimmerman told the hearing firefighters had told him a relocated fire station and an available hydrant at the corner had been decisive in saving his duplex during a past fire — he said that, in his view, increasing density at that corner raised fire‑safety concerns.

Other residents raised concerns about parking shortages, construction congestion, building height and sightlines, and said they had not received timely notification of the development. "We don't want it — we'd like to keep our residential single dwelling with nice, lovely backyards," said Shannon Carrillo, a nearby homeowner. Several speakers described the new buildings as two‑story structures that would be out of scale with surrounding single‑story homes.

Hearing Examiner Andy Cockcamp admitted the staff report, application materials and public comments into the record and closed public testimony. He said he will prepare a recommended decision within 10 working days and forward that recommendation to the City Council, which makes the final rezoning determination.

The record shows staff recommends the rezoning; the transcript records substantial, repeated neighborhood opposition and safety concerns that the examiner will consider in drafting the recommendation.