Community Development Department
Director: Melissa Shumake
Address: 310 W. Poplar Street, Suite 200, Walla Walla, WA 99362
Email Address: commdev@wwcowa.gov Phone Number: 509-524-2610
Website: https://www.wwcowa.gov/government/community_development
/index.php
SUB26-05 CAP26-06-SEPA26-03
NOTICE OF APPLICATION/ODNS
Notice is hereby given on this date, 5/14/2026, that the application/proposal described in this notice has been filed with the Walla Walla County Community Development Department (CDD). The application/proposal may be reviewed at the CDD office at 310 W Poplar Street, Suite 200, Walla Walla, WA 99362. All interested persons and parties may comment on the application, appeal rights are outlined in Walla Walla County Code (WWCC) Chapter 14.11.
The Department is using the optional threshold determination process under the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) authorized by Washington Administrative Code 197-11-355. The application comment period may be the only opportunity to comment on the environmental impacts of the proposal. A copy of the SEPA determination on the proposal may be obtained upon request. The proposal may include mitigation measures under applicable codes, and the project review process may incorporate or require mitigation measures regardless of whether an environmental impact statement is prepared. The SEPA Responsible Official has preliminarily determined that the proposal is:
[ ] categorically exempt under SEPA
[X] subject to SEPA threshold determination requirements and the responsible official expects to issue the following determination: Determination of Non-Significance (DNS).
The following identified existing environmental documents are hereby incorporated by reference, and all or part of the documents may be used to evaluate the application/proposal:
• SEPA Environmental Checklist, SUB26-05, prepared by Riley Dull, APEX Companies, on April 21, 2026.
• Walla Walla County Subdivision Application form, dated April 13, 2026.
• Walla Walla County Environmental Land Use Application form, dated April 21, 2026.
• Land Title of Walla Walla County, Inc., Short Plat Certificate (Title Report), issued April 17, 2026.
• Walla Walla County Department of Community Health Land Development Application, dated April 17, 2026.
• Deed of Personal Representative, Grantor: Delores Bennington, Personal Representative of the Estate of William Bennington, Grantee: Delores Bennington, Auditor File Number (AFN) 2002-07826.
• Walla Walla County Potable Water Availability Form, signed April 17, 2026
• Bennington Estate Farm Center Cluster Short Plat, Preliminary Map, dated April 13, 2026.
• Record of Survey for site, AFN 2024-03831.
• Lot Report, dated April 10, 2026.
• Walla Walla County Preliminary Short Plat/Subdivision Narrative, submitted April 20, 2026.
• Walla Walla County Final Integrated Comprehensive Plan and EIS adopted December 17, 2007.
• Walla Walla County Comprehensive Plan adopted August 5, 2019.
These documents are located at the office of the CDD at 310 W. Poplar Street, Suite 200, Walla Walla, WA, and shall be made available for public review during all applicable comment periods on the application/proposal. Preliminary determinations and information contained herein shall not bind the County and are subject to continuing review and modification.
1. Applicant: Bennington-Geyer Rebecca, Executor of the Estate of Delores M Bennington, 2138 Paramount St, Walla Walla, WA, 99362.
2. Property Owner: Delores Bennington, 984 Frog Hollow Rd, Walla Walla, WA, 99362.
3. Application filing date: 4/20/2026
4. Date that application was determined to be substantially complete: 5/11/2026
5. Location: Generally located at 984 Frog Hollow Rd, Walla Walla, WA 99362, Assessor's Parcel Number (APN) 350604330007. Property located in the Southwest and Southeast Quarter of the Southwest Quarter of Section 4, Township 6 North, Range 35 East, Willamette Meridian, Walla Walla County, Washington;
6. Description of proposed action: Rebecca Geyer-Bennington Farm Center Short Plat. Proposed 2-lot short plat will result in creating a farm center cluster lot of 2.48 acres at 984 Frog Hollow Road and a resource parcel of 73.96 acres. The following mapped Critical Areas are located on or adjacent to the property: Walla Walla River Shallow Gravel Aquifer with a moderate to high vulnerability; Geologically Hazardous Areas (Seismic Hazard Areas with Moderate to High Liquefaction Susceptibility); Wetlands; Fish and Wildlife habitat conservation areas riparian buffer area (Walsh Creek 35' buffer and the West Little Walla Walla River 50' buffer).
7. Zoning map designation for the location: Agriculture Residential 10
8. Comprehensive plan land use designation for the location: Agriculture Residential.
9. Shoreline Environment: Not Applicable.
10. Required Permits: Critical Areas Permit Application, Short Plat Application.
11. Development Regulations: WWCC Title 16 – Subdivisions; WWCC 17.18 – Density and Dimensions; WWCC 17.31 – Cluster Developments on Resource Lands; WWCC Title 18 – Environment.
12. Comments on this application must be submitted in writing to the CDD at 310 W. Poplar Street, Suite 200, Walla Walla, WA 99362 or planning@wwcowa.gov. Any person desiring to submit written comments concerning an application or desiring to receive notification of the final decision concerning the proposal as expeditiously as possible after the issuance of decision, may submit the comments or requests for decisions to the department within fourteen days following the date of final publication of the notice of application. Comments must be received by the CDD before 5 PM on the following date: 5/28/2026.
13. A public hearing will not be held on the proposal.
14. The decision on this application will be made by the CDD Director.
15. The Director's decision may be appealed by the applicant(s) or parties of record to the Walla Walla County Hearing Examiner pursuant to WWCC 14.11.010 and 14.11.030.
For additional information please contact Don Sims, Associate Planner, at 509-524-2610, planning@wwcowa.gov, or 310 W. Poplar Street, Suite 200, Walla Walla, WA 99362.
This Notice of Application is required by Revised Code of Washington 36.70B.110 and WWCC 14.07.080.
(114329) May 14, 2026
