Division V. Procedures and Review Criteria

Chapter 18.125
AMENDMENTS

Sections:

18.125.010    Amendments to the text of the comprehensive plan or implementing ordinances.

18.125.020    Legislative amendments to the comprehensive plan map or zoning map.

18.125.030    Quasi-judicial amendments to the comprehensive plan map or zoning map.

18.125.010 Amendments to the text of the comprehensive plan or implementing ordinances.

A. Amendments to the text of the comprehensive plan, this title, or RMC Title 17 may be initiated by the city council, planning commission or other person.

B. Decision Process. Text amendments are Type IV decisions. Public hearings shall be held by the planning commission and the city council on the proposed amendment. Any amendments to the text shall be adopted by ordinance of the city council.

C. Criteria. Text amendments shall be consistent with the following criteria:

1. Applicable provisions of the Rainier comprehensive plan; and

2. Applicable statewide planning goals and/or administrative rules as adopted by the Land Conservation and Development Commission. (Ord. 974 § 4 (Exh. A.2 § 6.1), 1998)

18.125.020 Legislative amendments to the comprehensive plan map or zoning map.

A. Legislative amendments to the comprehensive plan map or zoning map (changes of such size, diversity of ownership or interest as to be legislative in nature) may be initiated by the city council, planning commission, or other interested person.

B. Decision Process. Legislative map amendments are Type IV decisions. Public hearings shall be held by the planning commission and the city council on the proposed amendment. Any amendments to the map shall be adopted by ordinance of the city council.

C. Criteria for Comprehensive Plan Map Amendments. In order to grant a legislative amendment to the comprehensive plan map, city council shall find that:

1. The amendment must be consistent with all applicable provisions of the Rainier comprehensive plan;

2. The amendment must be consistent with all applicable statewide planning goals and/or administrative rules as adopted by the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC);

3. The amendment must comply with all statutory and ordinance requirements and regulations;

4. There must be a demonstrated public need for the proposed amendment and this need will be best served by redesignating the property in question as compared with other available property; and

5. It must be demonstrated that the public interest is best carried out by approving the proposed amendment at this time.

D. Criteria for Zoning Map Amendments. Legislative amendments to the zoning map shall be consistent with the following criteria:

1. Applicable provisions of the Rainier comprehensive plan; and

2. Applicable statewide planning goals and/or administrative rules as adopted by the Land Conservation and Development Commission. (Ord. 974 § 4 (Exh. A.2 § 6.2), 1998)

18.125.030 Quasi-judicial amendments to the comprehensive plan map or zoning map.

A. Quasi-judicial amendments to the comprehensive plan map or zoning map (generally small in size, single ownership or single interest in changing the zoning map) may be initiated by the city council, the planning commission, or by application of an owner of property or the owner’s authorized agent within the area for which the amendment is proposed.

B. Decision Process. Quasi-judicial map amendments are Type IV decisions. Public hearings shall be held by the planning commission and the city council. Any amendments to the map shall be adopted by ordinance of the city council.

C. Criteria for Comprehensive Plan Map Amendments. In order to grant quasi-judicial amendment to the comprehensive plan map, city council shall find that:

1. The change is consistent with applicable plan policies; and either

2. A change of physical circumstances has occurred since the original designation; or

3. A mistake was made in the original land use designation.

D. Criteria for Zoning Map Amendments. Quasi-judicial amendments to the zoning map shall be consistent with the following criteria:

1. The proposal conforms with applicable provisions of the city’s comprehensive plan;

2. The proposal complies with all applicable statutory and ordinance requirements and regulations;

3. There is a public need for the proposal and that this need will be served by changing the zoning of the property in question as compared with other available property; and

4. The public interest is best carried out by approving the proposal at this time. (Ord. 974 § 4 (Exh. A.2 § 6.3), 1998)