S-3162.3 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 6255
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State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1992 Regular Session
By Senators Anderson, Snyder, Sutherland, Vognild, Amondson, Barr, Gaspard, Owen, Conner, Oke, Matson, Bailey, Bauer, Newhouse, Rasmussen, Sellar, Hayner, McCaslin, West, Jesernig, von Reichbauer and Erwin
Read first time 01/22/92. Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Water Resources.
AN ACT Relating to requiring the mapping of regulated wetlands; adding new sections to chapter 36.70A RCW; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that designating land as a wetland to be protected by a county or city's development regulations has a significant impact on the value and permissible uses, both public and private, of that land. The legislature also finds that creating an inventory and map of wetlands within the local jurisdiction will provide local officials with needed knowledge to allow for the integration of wetlands protection programs with the multiple planning goals established in RCW 36.70A.020. Mapping will serve also to provide information to an owner of land that is subject to local ordinances that regulate wetlands. The legislature further finds that to determine the value of property for tax purposes, maps of the affected areas must be filed with the county assessor's office so that office may properly adjust the value of the property to meet statutory requirements.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) Prior to adopting development regulations to protect wetlands, the county or city considering adoption shall develop an inventory of land that would be subject to those regulations. The location of this land, and adjacent buffer areas if any, shall be placed on maps of suitable scale for public viewing.
(2) The county or city shall mail to the owners of land identified as subject to wetland protection regulations a notice at least fifteen working days prior to the first public hearing on the proposed regulations. The notice must inform the landowners how the landowner may obtain a copy of the proposed ordinance and map, and the time and location of the public hearing.
(3) A county or city subject to this section and that has adopted development regulations shall transmit a copy of the development regulations and wetlands inventory map to the county assessor's office within sixty days of adopting the ordinances. The county assessor shall use this information to determine a new assessed value of property subject to the ordinance within twelve months of receiving the information.
(4) This section shall apply only to a county or city that adopts development regulations after March 15, 1992.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) A county or city that has adopted regulations by March 15, 1992, shall develop by September 1, 1992, an inventory of land that would be subject to wetland regulation. The location of the land, and adjacent buffer areas if any, shall be placed on maps of suitable scale for public viewing.
(2) The county and city shall mail to the owners of land identified as subject to the wetland protection regulation, a notice within thirty days of the required completion date of the inventory. The notice must inform the landowners how the landowner may obtain a copy of the ordinance and map.
(3) A county or city subject to this section shall transmit a copy of the development regulations and the wetlands inventory map to the county assessor within thirty days of the required completion date of the inventory. The county assessor shall use this information to determine a new assessed value of property subject to the ordinance within twelve months of receiving the information.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. Sections 1 through 3 of this act are each added to chapter 36.70A RCW.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. 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.