Chapter 19.06
CLOSED RECORD DECISIONS AND APPEALS
Sections:
19.06.010 Appeals of decisions.
19.06.020 Consolidated appeals.
19.06.030 Standing to initiate administrative appeal.
19.06.040 Closed record decisions and appeals.
19.06.050 Procedure for closed record decisions/appeal.
19.06.010 Appeals of decisions.
Project permit applications shall be appealable as provided in the framework in Section 19.01.040. (Ord. 1916 § 1 (part), 1997).
19.06.020 Consolidated appeals.
A. All appeals of project permit application decisions, other than an appeal of determination of significance (“DS”), shall be considered together in a consolidated appeal.
B. Appeals of environmental determinations under SEPA, Chapter 16.08 of this code, shall proceed as provided in that chapter. (Ord. 1916 § 1 (part), 1997).
19.06.030 Standing to initiate administrative appeal.
A. Limited to Parties of Record. Only parties of record may initiate an administrative appeal of a type II, III or IV decision on a project permit application.
B. Definition. The term “parties of record,” for the purposes of this chapter, means:
1. The applicant;
2. Any person who testified at the open record public hearing on the application; and/or
3. Any person who submitted written comments concerning the application at the open record public hearing (excluding persons who have only signed petitions or mechanically produced form letters). (Ord. 1916 § 1 (part), 1997).
19.06.040 Closed record decisions and appeals.
A. Type II, III or IV Project Permit Decisions or Recommendations. Appeals of the hearing body’s decision or recommendation on a type II, III or IV project permit application shall be governed by the following:
1. Standing. Only parties of record have standing to appeal the hearing body’s decision.
2. Time for Filing. An appeal of the hearing body’s decision must be filed within fourteen calendar days following issuance of the hearing body’s written decision. Appeals may be delivered to the planning department by mail, personal delivery or fax before five p.m. on the last business day of the appeal period.
3. Computation of Time. For the purposes of computing the time for filing an appeal, the day the hearing body’s decision is rendered shall not be included. The last day of the appeal period shall be included unless it is a Saturday, Sunday, or a day designated by RCW 1.16.050 or by the city’s ordinances as a legal holiday; then it also is excluded and the filing must be completed on the next business day. (RCW 35A.21.080.)
4. Content of Appeal. Appeals shall be in writing, be accompanied by an appeal fee in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 20.10, and contain the following information:
a. Appellant’s name, address and phone number;
b. Appellant’s statement describing his or her standing to appeal;
c. Identification of the application which is the subject of the appeal;
d. Appellant’s statement of grounds for appeal and the facts upon which the appeal is based;
e. The relief sought, including the specific nature and extent;
f. A statement that the appellant has read the appeal and believes the contents to be true, followed by the appellant’s signature.
5. Effect. The timely filing of an appeal shall stay the effective date of the hearing body’s decision until such time as the appeal is adjudicated by the council or withdrawn.
6. Notice of Appeal. The administrator shall provide public notice of the appeal as provided in Section 19.03.030(B)(2)(a) and 19.03.030(B)(c). (Ord. 2623 § 1, 2008: Ord. 1916 § 1 (part), 1997).
19.06.050 Procedure for closed record decision/appeal.
A. The following sections of this title shall apply to a closed record decision/appeal hearing: Sections 19.05.030, 19.05.040, 19.05.050, 19.05.060, 19.05.070(A)(1), 19.05.070(A)(2), 19.05.070(A)(3), 19.05.070(A)(6), and 19.05.080.
B. The closed record appeal/decision hearing shall be on the record before the hearing body, and no new evidence may be presented. (Ord. 1916 § 1 (part), 1997).
19.06.060 Judicial appeals.
A. The city’s final decision on an application may be appealed by a party of record with standing to file a land use petition in Benton County Superior Court. Such petition must be filed within twenty-one days of issuance of the decision, as provided in Chapter 36.70C RCW. (Ord. 1916 § 1 (part), 1997).
19.06.900 Severability.
If any section, sentence, clause or phrase of this chapter should be held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of any other section, sentence, clause or phrase of this chapter. (Ord. 2623 § 2, 2008).