HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESB 5822

BYSenators Garrett, McCaslin and Rasmussen

Revising short plat regulations.

House Committe on Local Government

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (13)

      Signed by Representatives Haugen, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Beck, Bumgarner, Ferguson, Hine, Madsen, Nealey, Nelson, Nutley, Rayburn, L. Smith and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Steve Lundin (786-7127)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 9, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The division of property for purposes of sale, lease, or transfer of ownership must be reviewed and approved by the county, city or town within which the land is located, where the smallest resulting lot is less than five acres.  Counties, cities and towns may increase the size of the smallest resulting lot in a division of land that requires such review and approval.

A short subdivision is a division of land that results in four or fewer lots.  A subdivision is a division of land that results in five or more lots.  Cities are allowed to increase the maximum number of lots in a short subdivision up to nine lots.

Review of a proposed short subdivision is a one-step administrative matter that does not involve a public hearing and notice is not provided.  A short plat, or map, of the proposed short subdivision is approved administratively and filed with the county auditor.

Requirements for proposed short subdivisions may be wholly different than for proposed subdivisions.  A county, city, or town may, or may not, require that a proposed short subdivision be surveyed.

If a short subdivision is further divided within five years, the division is considered to be a subdivision and a final plat of the area must be filed.

SUMMARY:

A short subdivision containing fewer than four parcels may be further divided within five years without filing a final plat on the area if no more than a total of four lots result within the original short subdivision.  Such a further division is initiated by the owner who filed the short plat filing a request for an alteration of the short subdivision.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Greg Gifford, County Road Administration Board; John Robinett, Washington Association of Realtors; and Jim Williams, Washington Association of Counties.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    This is not a big developer's bill.  Several counties allow this now anyway without requiring the filing of a final plat.  This gives flexibility.  This essentially allows phased short plats.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.