Comprehensive Plan Annual Amendments

Amendments to the County Comprehensive Plan are made once annually. The application date for proposed amendments is October 1st to December 1st of each year for the following year’s amendments. Proposed Amendments can have several origins. An owner of property within Benton County can propose them. The Board of County Commissioners can direct that amendments be processed, perhaps but not necessarily upon recommendation of the Planning Commission, or a citizen interest or property group. County Planning Staff can recommend amendments. Amendments can be the result of legislative changes in the law. Amendments to Final Urban Growth Areas (UGAs) will be cycled only once every five years (next UGA Amendment Cycle is submittal in the fall of 2028 for review in 2029.)

APPLICATIONS

Comprehensive Plan Amendment Application

Expansion of Urban Growth Area (UGA) Comprehensive Plan Amendment Application

Inventory Spreadsheet Application Addendum

The applications received will be reviewed under the requirements of SEPA (RCW 43.21C) and evaluated for Comprehensive Plan compliance using the “Comprehensive Plan Amendment Evaluation Criteria.”  Benton County Planning Staff will prepare a staff report on the proposals with a minimum of one Planning Commission open record hearing and forward their recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC).  The BOCC will conduct at least one open record hearing to consider and act upon the Planning Commission recommendation.  Final action on the proposed amendments is anticipated by September 1st of the corresponding year.  Notification of the hearings will be published in advance; those interested in receiving a notice by mail or email regarding the above actions may call the.  

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2025 Docket

CPA 2025-001:

A proposal by Knutzen Engineering for 5D Development at Cottonwood 1 LLC, requesting a change in the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Designation from Rural Industrial to Rural Commercial on lot 4 of Short Plat 3744 and lot 1 of the Plat of Cottonwood Commercial Plaza both of which are in Section 11, Township 8 North, Range 28 East.

2024 Docket

2024 Docket for Submittals 

CPA 2024-001

A proposal by the Community Development Department, Planning Division to clarify and amend two sections in the Benton County Comprehensive Plan related to the Open Space Conservation Land Use Designation.

CPA 2024-002

A proposal by the City of Benton City requesting a change in the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Designation on two parcels from Rural Industrial to Rural Remote and Public.  These parcels are located in the southwest corner of the intersection of 14th Street and Chris Avenue, Benton City WA.  Parcel # 113964011991002 will be change from Rural Industrial to Public and Parcel #113964011991001 will be changed from Rural Industrial to Rural Remote in Section 13, Township 9 North, Range 24 East, W.M.

2023 Docket for Submittals

2022 Docket

CPA 2022-001

A proposal by Vicki Brock, requesting a change in the land use designation from Rural Industrial to Rural Remote on six parcels located north of E Cochran Rd and east of S Finley Rd in the Finley rural area of unincorporated Benton County, in the northwest Quarter of Section 23, Township 8 North, Range 30 East, W.M. on parcel #’s 123802012006001, 123802012006002, 123802012157001, 123802012157002, 123802000014000, and 123802000017000.

CPA 2022-002

A proposal by Thomas Fisher and Randall Underwood requesting a change in the land use designation from Rural Remote to Rural Industrial on three (3) contiguous parcels located north of SR 397 and west of S Yew Street, east of the Kennewick City Limits in Sections 5 & 8, Township 8 North, Range 30 East, W.M. parcel #’s 105803012350003, 105803012350002, and 108801020004003.

CPA 2022-003

A proposal by Jerritt Wiser and Watson Development Limited et al requesting a change in the land use designation from Rural Commercial to Rural Industrial on seven (7) parcels located off Wiser Loop and Wiser Parkway in Section 11, Township 8 North, Range 28 East, W.M. parcel #’s 111881020000007 through 111881020000012 and 111881020000014.

CPA amendments 2022-001, 002, and 003 will also require modifications to Appendix A, Figure 5-dated June 8, 2021 - the 2017 Periodic Update Land Use Designation Map.

CPA 2022-004

A proposal by the Benton County Planning Division to include maps and text edits to the Benton County Comprehensive plan designating the existing Urban Growth Area boundaries of the five incorporated cities within Benton County. The additional maps will be included within Appendix A-Map Folios.