1749-S

AN ACT Relating to permit processing; creating new sections; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds: (1) That permits are a necessary part of regulating some public and private activity for the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of this state; (2) that permit processing by state and local agencies should be done timely, fairly, and as efficiently as possible; (3) that permit processing by state and local agencies sometimes does not meet reasonable expectations of the citizens of this state; (4) that many projects require some regulatory review by several departments in the same agency or multiple review by different agencies; and (5) that better coordination of the issuance of permits in and between state and local agencies will enhance the permit process. Sections 2 through 5 of this act intend to improve permit processing by state and local agencies by providing encouragement and technical assistance to establish coordinated, one-stop permit processes and by encouraging improved service to the citizens of this state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) Each county shall review its procedures for the issuance of permits necessary for building or remodeling one, two, three, or four-unit residential dwellings. The goal of this review is to evaluate current policies and practices to establish more efficient policies and practices for the timely, coordinated, and efficient review of permit applications. The county shall consider, as part of this evaluation, the following: (a) Conducting preapplication conferences with the applicant to facilitate the application and review process; (b) identifying a lead staff person for each project to facilitate the review within the agency and to coordinate with other agencies when permits are required from more than one agency; (c) establishing a one-stop process where the applicant completes one application at one agency and where the applicant receives service from the person or department that took the application rather than having to complete several applications at several departments within the agency or at several agencies; (d) providing a checklist that familiarizes the applicant with the process and requirements and defines a complete application; and (e) establishing maximum review time frames for each element of the review process.

(2) Each county may review its procedures for the issuance of permits necessary for subdivisions or short subdivisions. If the county undertakes such a review, in addition to the considerations listed in subsection (1) of this section, the county shall also consider: (a) Allowing grading of streets and lots at the same time; (b) allowing grading to proceed on the basis of preliminary drainage plans and temporary drainage permits relating to the grading; (c) facilitating necessary permits for the connection of sewer and other utilities to existing services and the mitigating of resulting disruption; (d) facilitating fast turnaround on submissions and resubmissions; (e) allowing multiple uses of areas occupied by storm and water quality facilities, where possible, without compromising the function of these facilities; (f) facilitating prompt processing of approvals for wetlands restoration; (g) facilitating the planning and approval of relocation of existing power and other utility facilities; (h) providing administrative review of front yard set-backs within the plat which do not have off-site impacts; and (i) evaluating the timing and cost implications of the current approval process.

(3) The review required under subsection (1) of this section shall be completed by July 1, 1994. Each county shall report to the department of community development by October 1, 1994, summarizing the review and describing changes made or findings that may be helpful in other jurisdictions.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) Each city with a population over fifty thousand on the effective date of this act shall review its procedures for the issuance of permits necessary for building or remodeling one, two, three, or four-unit residential dwellings. The goal of this review shall be to evaluate current policies and practices to establish more efficient policies and practices for the timely, coordinated, and efficient review of permit applications. The city shall consider, as part of this evaluation, the following: (a) Conducting preapplication conferences with the applicant to facilitate the application and review process; (b) identifying a lead staff person for each project to facilitate the review within the agency and to coordinate with other agencies when permits are required from more than one agency; (c) establishing a one-stop process where the applicant completes one application at one agency and where the applicant receives service from the person or department that took the application rather than having to complete several applications at several departments within the agency or at several agencies; (d) providing a checklist that familiarizes the applicant with the process and requirements and defines a complete application; and (e) establishing maximum review time frames for each element of the review process.

(2) Each city may review its procedures for the issuance of permits necessary for subdivisions or short subdivisions. If the city undertakes such a review, in addition to the considerations listed in subsection (1) of this section, the city shall also consider: (a) Allowing grading of streets and lots at the same time; (b) allowing grading to proceed on the basis of preliminary drainage plans and temporary drainage permits relating to the grading; (c) facilitating necessary permits for the connection of sewer and other utilities to existing services and the mitigating of resulting disruption; (d) facilitating fast turnaround on submissions and resubmissions; (e) allowing multiple uses of areas occupied by storm and water quality facilities, where possible, without compromising the function of these facilities; (f) facilitating prompt processing of approvals for wetlands restoration; (g) facilitating the planning and approval of relocation of existing power and other utility facilities; (h) providing administrative review of front yard set-backs within the plat which do not have off-site impacts; and (i) evaluating the timing and cost implications of the current approval process.

(3) The review required under subsection (1) of this section shall be completed by July 1, 1994. Each city shall report to the department of community development by October 1, 1994, summarizing the review and describing changes made or findings that may be helpful in other jurisdictions.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The governor shall convene a task force of agency directors to recommend or implement changes to the processing of regulatory permits by state agencies. The goal of these recommendations or changes shall be to make the process more coordinated, more timely, more effective, and more service-oriented. The task force shall include, but not be limited to, the directors of the department of ecology and the department of community development. The recommendations or changes shall consider at least the following: (1) Streamlining state environmental permit processing among natural resource and regulatory agencies, particularly regarding multiple agency permit processing and eliminating duplication; and (2) identifying a staff person in each regional office of regulatory agencies to coordinate cross-program or multiagency processing and decisions. The governor shall report to the appropriate legislative standing committees regarding this section by December 1, 1993.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. (1) The department of community development shall provide technical assistance to counties and cities to carry out the review required in sections 2 and 3 of this act. The technical assistance may include model ordinances for counties and cities that consider: (a) Conducting preapplication conferences with the applicant to facilitate the application and review process; (b) identifying a lead staff person for each project to facilitate the review within the agency and to coordinate with other agencies when permits are required from more than one agency; (c) establishing a one-stop process where the applicant completes one application at one agency where the applicant receives service from the person or department that took the application rather than having to complete several applications at several departments within the agency or at several agencies; (d) providing a checklist that familiarizes the applicant with the process and requirements and defines a complete application; and (e) establishing maximum review time frames for each element of the review process.

(2) The department shall report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature concerning sections 2 and 3 of this act by January 1, 1995.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill number, is not provided in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.