Pendleton council to hold hearing on vacant storefront ordinance

By Terry Murry on Tuesday, December 16th, 2025 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON – The Pendleton City Council will meet at 7 p.m. this evening (Tuesday) and will hold a public hearing on a proposed ordinance aimed at keeping more buildings occupied in the downtown area.

In an earlier interview with Elkhorn Media Group, City Manager Robb Corbett said that there are some owners who flatly refuse to rent their spaces when approached by people who want to open a business downtown. The proposed ordinance is a move to change that.

The ordinance would require owners with vacant storefronts to register their properties. There is no fee for registering them. It would also require a completed plan to marketing the space and, if the property is determined to be a public nuisance, a plan of action to remedy that. There would also be processes in place for the city to monitor progress and for the owner to contest the finding of vacancy for a storefront.

The meeting will be held in council chambers of Pendleton City Hall. Join Meeting Via TeamsHERE.