Chapter 16.34
DEVIATIONS FROM DESIGN STANDARDS

Sections:

16.34.010    Subdivision – Deviations.

16.34.020    Short subdivision – Deviations.

16.34.010 Subdivision – Deviations.

An applicant for a subdivision who believes the Okanogan County Road and Street Standards and Guidelines for Development are inappropriate for the subdivision they are proposing, may, as part of their submittal, request a deviation from those standards. All requests for deviations shall be reviewed and a recommendation regarding the requested deviation shall be made to the hearing examiner by the administrator and county engineer.

A. The request for deviation shall specify and justify the alternative design proposed.

B. The hearing examiner shall review and evaluate all such deviations, considering the following factors:

1. The deviation requested will not be a compromise on safety and will not decrease the functional characteristics of the street or roadway to a level unacceptable to the county engineer;

2. The comprehensive plan for the area and the suitability of the proposed road standard in terms of the plan;

3. The intensity of development in the proposed short subdivision or subdivision; the volume of vehicle traffic expected; future predicted traffic volumes;

4. The relationship of the proposed nonstandard roadway to the overall road system in the area and possible need to extend those roads to serve adjacent properties that might be further divided; and that the roadways are compatible and appropriate;

5. The opportunity, by reducing the standards in accordance with subsections (B)(1), (2), and (3) of this section, to accomplish a preservation of the natural environmental setting of the area being subdivided. This may include narrower cleared rights-of-way, less need for cuts and fill on cross slope roadways, and the ability to more closely follow existing terrain if slope standards were relaxed. The intended end result would be less disturbance of vegetation, water courses, wetlands, topography, and riparian habitat.

C. The request shall be reviewed in conjunction with the subdivision review and the hearing examiner shall specifically recommend approval, approval with modification, or disapproval of the exception request as part of their recommendation regarding the subdivision to the board of county commissioners. (Ord. 2021-12, 2021; Ord. 95-7 § 1, 1995).

16.34.020 Short subdivision – Deviations.

Short subdivision deviations shall be reviewed according to the requirements of OCC 16.34.010, except the county engineer will make the recommendation to the administrator before final short plat approval. (Ord. 95-7 § 1, 1995).