Downtown Master Plan Hearing Set for November

The City of Yakima has set Nov. 5 for a public hearing on the Downtown Master Plan focusing on the creation of a public plaza that would replace a city parking lot with parking to be shifted to other areas.

City Manager Tony O'Rourke says the city will actually add 100 parking spaces to the area downtown. “So we’ll actually gain 100 parking spaces more than are available today.”

O'Rourke says the city is looking at increasing parking on side streets and partnering with the owner of the Yakima Mall parking garage and the owner of the Dragon Inn garage downtown among other options. And all the parking will be free.

The public is invited to give input to the council during a public hearing which will start at 6:00 p.m. at Yakima City Hall.

The council is expected to vote on the master plan that night which might represent a major change in the look of downtown Yakima.