Chapter 2.25
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Sections:
2.25.020 Department of Community and Economic Development created.
2.25.030 Comprehensive Plan duties.
2.25.040 Coordinating planning with other agencies.
2.25.050 Cooperation with agencies.
2.25.060 Comprehensive Plan – Consultation and effect.
2.25.070 Relating projects to Comprehensive Plan.
2.25.080 Department assistance in capital programs.
2.25.090 Recommendation of official controls.
2.25.130 Zoning certification.
2.25.140 Procedural conflicts.
2.25.010 Definitions.
A. Area Zoning. “Area zoning” is synonymous with the terms “rezoning or original zoning” and means procedures initiated by the City which result in the adoption or amendment of zoning maps on an area-wide basis. This type of zoning is characterized as being comprehensive in nature dealing with natural homogeneous communities, distinctive geographic areas and other districts having unified interests within the City. Area zoning, unlike a reclassification, usually involves many separate properties under various ownerships and utilizes several of the zoning classifications available to express the City’s current Comprehensive Plan and related community plan policies in zoning map form.
B. Certification. “Certification” means affixing on any map, or any portion of a comprehensive plan or official control, a record of the date of action and ordinance number, together with the signatures of the officer or officers authorized by ordinance to so sign.
C. Commission. “Commission” means the seven member Planning Commission of the City of SeaTac, as created by Ordinance No. 90-1047, codified in Chapter 2.15.
D. Comprehensive Plan. “Comprehensive Plan” means the principles, goals, objectives, policies and criteria approved by the Council to further the following goals:
1. As a beginning step in planning for the development of the City;
2. As the means for coordinating State growth management legislation requirements with City plans, policies and programs and with plans, policies and programs and with plans, policies, programs and urban boundaries of surrounding jurisdictions;
3. As the means for coordinating State growth management legislation requirements with City plans, policies and programs and with plans, policies, programs and urban boundaries of surrounding jurisdictions;
4. As a source of reference to aid in developing, correlating, and coordinating official regulations and controls;
5. As a means for promoting the general welfare.
E. Council. “Council” means the City Council of the City of SeaTac, pursuant to RCW 35A.13.010.
F. Department. “Department” means the Department of Community and Economic Development as established by this chapter.
G. Element. “Element” means one of the various categories of subjects, each of which constitutes a component of the Comprehensive Plan.
H. Examiner. “Examiner” means the Hearing Examiner established by Ordinance No. 90-1045, codified in Chapter 1.20, as amended by Ordinance No. 90-1051.
I. Official Controls. “Official controls” means legislatively defined and enacted policies, standards, detailed maps and other criteria, all of which control the physical development of the City, or any part thereof, or any detail thereof, and which are the means of translating into regulations and ordinances all or any part of the general objectives of the Comprehensive Plan. Official controls may include:
1. Maps showing boundaries of zones within each of which separate controls over the type and degree of permissible land uses are defined;
2. Maps for existing or proposed streets showing the alignment, with reference to protecting such defined rights-of-way against encroachment by buildings, other physical structures or facilities;
3. Maps for public facilities, such as parks, civic centers, public buildings, waste disposal sites, etc., showing location, size, boundaries and other related features, including appropriate regulations protecting future sites against encroachment by buildings and other physical structures or facilities;
4. Regulations and controls pertaining to other subjects incorporated in the Comprehensive Plan and subarea plans or establishing standard and procedures to be employed in land development including, but not limited to: subdividing of land and the approval of land plats; preservation of streets and lands for public purposes requiring future dedication or acquisition; and general design of physical improvements.
J. Reclassification. “Reclassification” means a change in the zoning classification by procedures initiated by an individual or a group of individuals.
K. Subarea Plan. “Subarea plan” means a section of the Comprehensive Plan which contains specific policies, guidelines and criteria adopted by the Council to guide land development, transportation facilities, community facilities, infrastructure and capital improvement decisions within specific subareas of the City. The subareas of the City shall consist of natural homogenous communities, distinctive geographic areas, or other of districts having unified interest.
L. Zoning Certification. “Zoning certification” means an approval from the Department which confirms existing zoning on a parcel that has proposed development or land use actions, and the proposed development or land use action is permitted or conforms to the standards of the zone classification. (Ord. 11-1002 § 2 (part); Ord. 90-1060 § 1)
2.25.020 Department of Community and Economic Development created.
A Department of Community and Economic Development is hereby created to be administered by a Director who shall report to the City Manager. (Ord. 11-1002 § 2 (part); Ord. 90-1060 § 2)
2.25.030 Comprehensive Plan duties.
The Department shall, in conjunction with the Planning Commission, prepare and present to the City Council Comprehensive Plans, subarea plans and/or amendments as the needs of the City require for adoption by ordinance and as it relates to the requirements of the State Growth Management Legislation.
A. Public Hearing Required. The Department shall ensure that the Planning Commission holds at least one (1) public hearing before adopting any elements, amendments, extensions or additions to the Comprehensive Plan, and the Department shall assist the Planning Commission in scheduling and conducting such public hearings.
B. City Council Approval. The Department shall recommend to the Council, upon transmittal of the Planning Commission’s recommendation as to adoption of any elements, amendments, extensions or additions to the Comprehensive Plan or sub-area plan, whether an additional a public hearing should be held by the Council.
C. Notice of Public Hearings. The Department shall ensure that notice of the time, place and purpose of any such public hearing shall be published on time in the official newspaper of the City at least fourteen (14) days before the hearing.
D. Annual Report. The Community and Economic Development Department shall render an annual report on the status of the plan and accomplishments thereunder.
E. Promotion of Public Interest in Plan. The Department shall promote public interest in, and understanding of, the Comprehensive Plan and its purpose, and of the official controls. (Ord. 11-1002 § 2 (part); Ord. 90-1060 § 3)
2.25.040 Coordinating planning with other agencies.
The Department shall advise all departments of the City on planning and land use actions and shall coordinate City planning with other governmental agencies. (Ord. 90-1060 § 4)
2.25.050 Cooperation with agencies.
The Department shall, to the extent it deems necessary, cooperate with officials and agencies, public utility companies, civic, educational, professional and other organizations and citizens generally with regard to carrying out the purpose of the Comprehensive Plan. (Ord. 90-1060 § 5)
2.25.060 Comprehensive Plan – Consultation and effect.
The Comprehensive Plan shall be consulted as a preliminary consideration for consistency with the establishment, improvement, abandonment, or vacation of any street, park, public way, public building, or public structure, and no dedication of any street or other area for public use shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission and accepted by the Council until the location, character, extent and effect of such action shall have been considered by the Department with reference to the adopted Comprehensive Plan. The report and recommendation of the Department to the Council shall be advisory only. (Ord. 90-1060 § 6)
2.25.070 Relating projects to Comprehensive Plan.
After the Council has approved all or part of the Comprehensive Plan, the Department shall use the Comprehensive Plan as the basic source of reference and as a guide in reporting upon or recommending any proposed project, public or private, as to its purpose, location, form, alignment and timing. The report of the Department on any such project shall indicate wherein the proposed project does, or does not, conform to the purposes of the Comprehensive Plan and may include proposals which, if effected, would cause the project to conform. If the Department finds that a proposed project reveals the justification or necessity for amending the Comprehensive Plan, or any part thereof, the Department may institute proceedings to accomplish such amendment, and in its report to the Council on the project shall note that appropriate amendments to the Comprehensive Plan, or part thereof, are being studied or initiated. (Ord. 90-1060 § 7)
2.25.080 Department assistance in capital programs.
The Department of Finance shall assist the Department in developing capital improvement programs as required by any applicable State growth management legislation and the Department shall assist the Department of Finance in developing capital budgets. (Ord. 90-1060 § 8)
2.25.090 Recommendation of official controls.
From time to time, the Department, with the assistance of the Planning Commission, may cause to be prepared official controls which, when adopted by ordinance, will further the standards of the zoning code and the objectives and goals of the Comprehensive Plan. The Department may draft such plans, regulation, programs and legislation as may be required to preserve the integrity of the zoning code and Comprehensive Plan and assure its systematic execution. The Department may recommend any such plans, regulation, programs and legislation to the Council for adoption. (Ord. 90-1060 § 9)
2.25.100 Public hearing.
Before the Council adopts an official control, or any amendments thereto, the Council or the Hearing Examiner shall conduct a public hearing after which the Council may adopt or reject said official control or amendment. (Ord. 90-1060 § 10)
2.25.110 Area zoning.
The Department, with the assistance of the Planning Commission, shall consider and make recommendations to the Council concerning proposed area zoning. Area zoning to implement Comprehensive Plan and subarea policies and guidelines shall be proposed at the same time the Comprehensive Plan and subarea elements are proposed. The City shall make a reasonable effort to notify all affected property owners. Such notice shall include publication in the official City newspaper and mailing to all property owners whose names appear on the rolls of the King County Assessor in the area for which the area zoning is proposed. The publication and mailed notice required herein shall be given at least fourteen (14) days prior to the public hearing on the proposed area zoning. Failure to notify any specific property owner shall not invalidate an area zoning proceedings or any resulting reclassification of land. (Ord. 90-1060 § 11)
2.25.120 Reclassification.
The Department shall receive and consider information and shall prepare a report stating findings and recommendations to the Hearing Examiner concerning any application for reclassification to assure conformance with the Comprehensive Plan and other standards and official controls enacted by the Council. Adoption of reclassification may be as approved by the City Council, considering the recommendation of the Hearing Examiner and the Department. (Ord. 90-1060 § 12)
2.25.130 Zoning certification.
Prior to issuance of any license or permit involving construction or remodeling of structures, construction activities and land use action, the Department shall issue a certificate of zoning compliance to ensure conformity of the proposed project with the zoning code and Comprehensive Plan and other standards and official controls enacted by the Council. (Ord. 90-1060 § 13)
2.25.140 Procedural conflicts.
The provisions of this chapter shall take precedence, in case of conflict, over provisions of Title 19 “Subdivisions” of the King County Code adopted by reference pursuant to Ordinance No. 90-1020*, codified in Chapter 14.05 SMC, and the provisions of Title 21 “Zoning” of the King County Code adopted by reference pursuant to Ordinance No. 90-1019**, codified in Chapter 15.10 SMC. (Ord. 16-1007 § 8: Ord. 90-1060 § 14)
*Code reviser’s note: Ordinance 90-1020, previously codified in Chapter 14.05 SMC, was repealed and replaced by Ordinance 09-1012, codified in SMC Title 14.
**Code reviser’s note: Ordinance 90-1019, previously codified in Chapter 15.10 SMC, was superseded by Ordinance 92-1041, and later replaced by Ordinance 15-1018, codified in SMC Title 15.