Chapter 14.09
AMENDING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Sections:
14.09.020 Exceptions to the amendment process.
14.09.030 Submission deadlines.
14.09.040 Types of amendments.
14.09.060 Initiation of amendments.
14.09.080 Amendment applications.
14.09.085 Proposed amendments list.
14.09.090 Determination of completeness for proposed amendments.
14.09.100 Public notice of public hearing(s).
14.09.110 Public hearing on the proposed amendments list.
14.09.120 Considerations for decision to initiate processing.
14.09.130 Selecting the applications for further processing during annual review.
14.09.140 Planning commission action.
14.09.150 City council action.
14.09.160 Criteria for approval.
14.09.170 Adoption and rejection.
14.09.180 Transmittals to the state.
14.09.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to establish procedures for amending the city’s comprehensive plan, including the comprehensive plan text and land use map, as well as the land use, housing, capital facilities plan, utilities, transportation, economic, and park/recreation elements of the comprehensive plan. The Growth Management Act (GMA) generally allows amendments to comprehensive plans only once per year, except as otherwise provided in RCW 36.70A.130(2), so that the cumulative impacts of all proposed amendments can be analyzed. This chapter is intended to provide a process to docket proposed amendments for annual review, to provide timelines, to identify public participation procedures, application requirements, and review criteria for consideration of amendments to the various comprehensive plans. [Ord. 20-20 § 1 (Att. A), 2020; Ord. 38-07 § 1, 2007].
14.09.020 Exceptions to the amendment process.
The city council may amend the comprehensive plan(s) more frequently than once per year under the following circumstances (consistent with RCW 36.70A.130(2)):
A. Initial adoption of an identified subarea plan that does not modify the comprehensive plan policies and designations applicable to the subarea;
B. The adoption or amendment of a shoreline master program under the procedures set forth in Chapter 90.58 RCW;
C. The amendment of the capital facilities element of a comprehensive plan that occurs concurrently with the adoption or amendment of the city’s budget; and
D. Any other circumstance specifically described in RCW 36.70A.130. For purposes of RCW 36.70A.130(2)(b), an emergency may be declared by the city council when delaying action until the next annual review process would jeopardize human safety or property, or otherwise result in substantial harm to the public. [Ord. 20-20 § 1 (Att. A), 2020; Ord. 38-07 § 1, 2007].
14.09.030 Submission deadlines.
Proposed amendments to the comprehensive plan or land use plan map may be submitted at any time. Applications received by the last working day in January of a given year will be considered during that year’s annual review period. Applications received after the last working day in January will be considered during the subsequent year’s annual review period. [Ord. 20-20 § 1 (Att. A), 2020; Ord. 38-07 § 1, 2007].
14.09.040 Types of amendments.
There are two types of comprehensive plan amendments: text and map. All amendments require docketing and all types can be considered each year. All comprehensive plan amendments are legislative processes and are not subject to deadlines for issuance of a final decision or project permit applications in Chapter 14.05 WRMC. While the city may consider amendments only once a year, there is no deadline for the city’s final decision on the amendments, nor is there any limitation on the number of meetings or hearings that the city may hold to consider the amendments. [Ord. 20-20 § 1 (Att. A), 2020; Ord. 38-07 § 1, 2007].
14.09.050 Annual review process and SEPA review.
Repealed by Ord. 20-20. [Ord. 38-07 § 1, 2007].
14.09.060 Initiation of amendments.
Amendments may be initiated by any interested person, including applicants, citizens, and staff of other agencies. [Ord. 20-20 § 1 (Att. A), 2020; Ord. 38-07 § 1, 2007].
14.09.070 Docket.
Repealed by Ord. 20-20. [Ord. 38-07 § 1, 2007; Ord. 27-99 § 4, 1999].
14.09.080 Amendment applications.
A. General Application Requirements. All map and text amendment applications shall be accompanied by a completed application form as provided by the city along with the following additional information:
1. Name and address of the person or persons proposing the amendment;
2. An environmental checklist (SEPA);
3. All associated fees as established by the city;
4. A written statement explaining the following:
a. The purpose of the proposed amendment;
b. How the amendment is consistent with the Washington State Growth Management Act;
c. How the amendment is consistent with the adopted county-wide planning policies;
d. How the amendment furthers the purpose of the city’s comprehensive plan;
e. How the amendment is internally consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan, as well as other adopted city plans and codes;
f. If applicable, how the project will meet concurrency requirements for transportation; and
g. Supplemental environmental review and/or critical areas review if determined by the community development director to be required.
B. Comprehensive Plan Text Amendment Requirements. In addition to the general application requirements, the following additional information shall accompany a text amendment application:
1. The proposed element, chapter, section, and page number of the comprehensive plan to be amended.
2. Proposed text changes, with new text shown in an underline format, and deleted text shown in strikeout format.
C. Comprehensive Plan Map Amendment Requirements. Map amendments include changes to any of the several maps included in the comprehensive plan including, but not limited to, the land use map, future roadways map, parks and trails map, etc. All map amendment applications shall include the information specified under general application requirements. In addition, land use map amendment applications shall be accompanied by the following information:
1. The current land use map designation for the subject parcel(s).
2. The land use map designation requested.
3. A complete legal description describing the combined area of all the subject parcel(s).
4. A vicinity map showing:
a. All land use designations within 300 feet of the subject parcel(s).
b. All parcels within 300 feet of the subject parcel and all existing uses of those parcels.
c. All roads abutting and/or providing access to the subject parcel(s) including information on road classifications (arterial, collector, access) and improvements to such roads.
d. Location of shorelines and critical areas on or within 300 feet of the site, if applicable.
e. The location of existing utilities serving the subject parcels including electrical, water and sewer (including septic).
f. The location and uses of existing structures located on the subject parcel(s).
5. A traffic impact analysis (TIA) assessing the potential impacts of the proposed amendment, if applicable.
6. Topographical map of the subject parcels and abutting properties at a scale of a minimum of one inch represents 200 feet (1:200).
7. The current official zoning map designation for the subject parcel(s).
8. A detailed plan which indicates any proposed improvements, including plans for:
a. Paved streets;
b. Storm drainage control and detention facilities;
c. Public water supply;
d. Public sanitary sewers; and
e. Circulation and traffic patterns for the development and the surrounding neighborhoods.
9. A corresponding zoning map amendment application where necessary to maintain consistency between the land use and zoning maps. The rezone application will be processed separately from, and after, the comprehensive plan amendment.
10. Other information as may be required by the community development director to assist in accurately assessing the conformance of the application with the standards for approval.
11. A description of any associated development proposals. Development proposals shall not be processed concurrent with comprehensive plan amendments, but the development proposals may be submitted for consideration of the comprehensive plan amendments to limit consideration of all proposed uses and densities of the property under the city’s SEPA, zoning, and comprehensive land use plan. If no proposed development description is provided, the city will assume that the applicant intends to develop the property with the most intense development allowed under the proposed land use designation. The city shall assume the maximum impact, unless the applicant submits with the comprehensive plan amendment a development agreement to ameliorate the adverse impact(s) of the proposed development.
D. Related Applications. Comprehensive plan amendments shall be processed separately from any other related project permit applications, including but not limited to site-specific rezone applications, except that related development descriptions may be submitted as described in subsection (C)(11) of this section. [Ord. 20-20 § 1 (Att. A), 2020; Ord. 38-07 § 1, 2007].
14.09.085 Proposed amendments list.
Proposed amendments will be assigned an application number and placed on a proposed amendments list. A current copy of the proposed amendments list shall be maintained by the planning department and shall be available for public inspection during regular city business hours. [Ord. 20-20 § 1 (Att. A), 2020].
14.09.090 Determination of completeness for proposed amendments.
The community development director shall review all applications on the proposed amendments list and make a determination of completeness within 30 days of receipt of application. (The requirements of RCW 36.70B.080 or WRMC 14.02.030 do not apply to legislative processes.) Applicants will be required to provide any additional material requested by the director within 15 days of the date of the request. Applications which are determined to be incomplete as of 45 days after the annual application deadline date identified in WRMC 14.09.030 will not be considered during the current annual review process. It is highly recommended that applicants for amendments to the comprehensive plan contact the planning department and arrange for a preapplication conference prior to submittal of an application for amendment, to avoid delays in processing. [Ord. 20-20 § 1 (Att. A), 2020; Ord. 38-07 § 1, 2007].
14.09.100 Public notice of public hearing(s).
A notice of public hearing(s) on proposed amendments to the comprehensive plan shall be sent to the news media and posted on the city’s official website. For site-specific land use map amendment proposals (i.e., sites involving four or fewer parcels, or sites consisting of multiple contiguous parcels under a single ownership), the notice of public hearing shall be mailed to all property owners within 600 feet of the subject site. Notices shall be both mailed and posted at least seven days prior to the scheduled public hearing. [Ord. 20-20 § 1 (Att. A), 2020; Ord. 38-07 § 1, 2007].
14.09.110 Public hearing on the proposed amendments list.
The city council shall review and consider all of the amendments included in the proposed amendments list that were submitted in time for review during the current calendar year during a regular council hearing before making a final decision on which amendments will proceed through the annual amendment process. [Ord. 20-20 § 1 (Att. A), 2020; Ord. 38-07 § 1, 2007].
14.09.120 Considerations for decision to initiate processing.
Before rendering a decision whether the individual comprehensive plan amendment proposal may be processed during any year, the city council shall consider all relevant facts, including the application materials, as well as the following items:
A. Whether circumstances related to the proposed amendment and/or the area in which it is located have substantially changed since the adoption of the comprehensive plan.
B. Whether the assumptions upon which the comprehensive plan is based are no longer valid, or whether new information is available which was not considered during the initial comprehensive plan adoption process or during previous annual amendments. [Ord. 20-20 § 1 (Att. A), 2020; Ord. 38-07 § 1, 2007].
14.09.130 Selecting the applications for further processing during annual review.
The council shall consider each application separately under the procedures and criteria set forth in WRMC 14.09.110 and 14.09.120, and shall decide which applications will be processed during the current annual amendment process on a final docket, and which will not be processed. The council’s findings and conclusions on the applications that will not be processed shall be incorporated into a resolution. No findings and conclusions are required for those applications that are forwarded to the planning commission for further processing during the current annual review on a final docket. [Ord. 20-20 § 1 (Att. A), 2020; Ord. 38-07 § 1, 2007].
14.09.140 Planning commission action.
Once the applications are forwarded to the planning commission for further processing, the community development director shall review the applications (proposals) under SEPA, and issue a SEPA threshold decision. The community development director may use multiple checklists as provided by the applicants for the individual proposals, or may prepare a new checklist that combines all actions proposed on the final docket. The planning commission shall then hold a public hearing(s) on the applications and consider them cumulatively under the criteria set forth in WRMC 14.09.160. The commission’s written recommendation on the applications shall then be forwarded to the city council. [Ord. 20-20 § 1 (Att. A), 2020; Ord. 38-07 § 1, 2007].
14.09.150 City council action.
The city council shall consider the planning commission’s recommendation on the comprehensive plan amendments and make a decision to either adopt or deny each amendment application. If the council makes no changes to the planning commission’s recommendation, the council may act on the amendment(s) during a regular city council meeting. If the council determines to make any changes to the planning commission’s recommendation, the council may be required to schedule and hold a public hearing, pursuant to RCW 36.70A.035(2). [Ord. 20-20 § 1 (Att. A), 2020; Ord. 38-07 § 1, 2007].
14.09.160 Criteria for approval.
Every applicant for a comprehensive plan amendment must demonstrate how each of the following criteria for approval has been satisfied in their application materials. The city council, in addition to the consideration of the conditions set forth in WRMC 14.09.120, shall make written findings regarding each application’s consistency or inconsistency with each of the following criteria:
A. The proposed amendment will not adversely impact the city’s ability to provide sewer and water, and will not adversely affect adopted levels of service standards for other public facilities and services, such as parks, police, fire, emergency medical services and governmental services;
B. Adequate infrastructure, facilities, and services are available to serve the proposed or potential development expected as a result of this amendment, according to one of the following provisions:
1. The city has adequate funds for needed infrastructure, facilities, and services to support new development associated with the proposed amendments; or
2. The city’s projected revenues are sufficient to fund needed infrastructure, facilities, and services, and such infrastructure, facilities, and services are included in the schedule of capital improvements in the city’s capital facilities plan; or
3. Needed infrastructure, facilities, and services will be funded by the developer under the terms of a developer’s agreement associated with this comprehensive plan amendment; or
4. Adequate infrastructure, facilities, and services are currently in place to serve expected development as a result of this comprehensive plan amendment based upon an assessment of land use assumptions; or
5. Land use assumptions have been reassessed, and required amendments to other sections of the comprehensive plan are being processed in conjunction with this amendment in order to ensure that adopted level of service standards will be met;
C. The proposed amendment is consistent with the goals, policies and objectives of the comprehensive plan;
D. The proposed amendment will not result in probable significant adverse impacts to the transportation network, capital facilities, utilities, parks, and environmental features which cannot be mitigated, and will not place unmitigated burdens upon existing or planned services;
E. In the case of an amendment to the comprehensive plan land use map, that the subject parcels being redesignated are physically suitable for the allowed land uses in the implementing zoning districts for the designation being requested, including compatibility with existing and planned surrounding land uses and the zoning district locational criteria contained within the comprehensive plan and zoning code;
F. The proposed amendment will not create a demand to change other land use designations of adjacent or surrounding properties, unless the change in land use designation for other properties is in the long-term interest of the community in general;
G. The proposed amendment is consistent with the Growth Management Act, the county-wide planning policies and other applicable interjurisdictional policies and agreements, and/or other state or local laws; and
H. The proposed effect of approval of any individual amendment will not have a cumulative adverse effect on the planning area. [Ord. 20-20 § 1 (Att. A), 2020; Ord. 38-07 § 1, 2007].
14.09.170 Adoption and rejection.
Comprehensive plan amendments that are approved shall be adopted by ordinance. All comprehensive plan amendments that are rejected shall be addressed in a resolution. [Ord. 20-20 § 1 (Att. A), 2020; Ord. 38-07 § 1, 2007].
14.09.180 Transmittals to the state.
The planning department will transmit a copy of any proposed amendments and adopted ordinances to the Washington State Department of Commerce pursuant to the requirements of RCW 36.70A.106. [Ord. 20-20 § 1 (Att. A), 2020; Ord. 38-07 § 1, 2007].
14.09.190 Appeals.
Appeals shall be filed with the Growth Management Hearings Board in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 36.70A RCW. [Ord. 20-20 § 1 (Att. A), 2020; Ord. 38-07 § 1, 2007].
14.09.200 Applications for amendments located within the urban growth area and outside of the city limits.
Repealed by Ord. 20-20. [Ord. 38-07 § 1, 2007].
14.09.210 Map revisions.
If land use map amendments are adopted, the city council shall order that the planning department update the comprehensive plan land use map to reflect the amendments. [Ord. 20-20 § 1 (Att. A), 2020; Ord. 38-07 § 1, 2007].