BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to growth management hearings boards; amending RCW 36.70A.020, 36.70A.250, 36.70A.270, 36.70A.280, 36.70A.290, 36.70A.300, 36.70A.310, and 36.70A.320; adding new sections to chapter 36.70A RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the scope and breadth of decisions by the three growth management hearings boards exceed legislative intent for review of local growth management choices resulting in erosion of the confidence of the public and of locally elected officials in growth management planning. The legislature finds that many decisions by growth management hearings boards have not accorded adequate deference to planning choices made by counties and cities. The legislature restates its intention that implementation of the growth management act focus on locally developed and locally implemented strategies to manage population growth, rather than planning based on decisions made at the state or regional level. The purpose of this act is to reaffirm the validity of local decisions in growth management planning and to clarify the role of the state and the boards in the review and appeal of local plans and regulations.

Sec. 2. RCW 36.70A.020 and 1990 1st ex.s. c 17 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

The following goals are adopted to guide the development and adoption of comprehensive plans and development regulations of those counties and cities that are required or choose to plan under RCW 36.70A.040. The following goals are not listed in order of priority and it shall be the responsibility of each county and city planning under this chapter to determine how to prioritize and balance these goals. The goals shall be used exclusively for the purpose of guiding the development of comprehensive plans and development regulations:

(1) Urban growth. Encourage development in urban areas where adequate public facilities and services exist or can be provided in an efficient manner.

(2) Reduce sprawl. Reduce the inappropriate conversion of undeveloped land into sprawling, low-density development.

(3) Transportation. Encourage efficient multimodal transportation systems that are based on regional priorities and coordinated with county and city comprehensive plans.

(4) Housing. Encourage the availability of affordable housing to all economic segments of the population of this state, promote a variety of residential densities and housing types, and encourage preservation of existing housing stock.

(5) Economic development. Encourage economic development throughout the state that is consistent with adopted comprehensive plans, promote economic opportunity for all citizens of this state, especially for unemployed and for disadvantaged persons, and encourage growth in areas experiencing insufficient economic growth, all within the capacities of the state's natural resources, public services, and public facilities.

(6) Property rights. Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation having been made. The property rights of landowners shall be protected from arbitrary and discriminatory actions.

(7) Permits. Applications for both state and local government permits should be processed in a timely and fair manner to ensure predictability.

(8) Natural resource industries. Maintain and enhance natural resource-based industries, including productive timber, agricultural, and fisheries industries. Encourage the conservation of productive forest lands and productive agricultural lands, and discourage incompatible uses.

(9) Open space and recreation. Encourage the retention of open space and development of recreational opportunities, conserve fish and wildlife habitat, increase access to natural resource lands and water, and develop parks.

(10) Environment. Protect the environment and enhance the state's high quality of life, including air and water quality, and the availability of water.

(11) Citizen participation and coordination. Encourage the involvement of citizens in the planning process and ensure coordination between communities and jurisdictions to reconcile conflicts.

(12) Public facilities and services. Ensure that those public facilities and services necessary to support development shall be adequate to serve the development at the time the development is available for occupancy and use without decreasing current service levels below locally established minimum standards.

(13) Historic preservation. Identify and encourage the preservation of lands, sites, and structures, that have historical or archaeological significance.

Sec. 3. RCW 36.70A.250 and 1994 c 249 s 29 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) There are hereby created three growth management hearings boards for the state of Washington. Each board is a quasi‑judicial body. The boards shall be established as follows:

(a) An Eastern Washington board with jurisdictional boundaries including all counties that are required to or choose to plan under RCW 36.70A.040 and are located east of the crest of the Cascade mountains;

(b) A Central Puget Sound board with jurisdictional boundaries including King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Kitsap counties; and

(c) A Western Washington board with jurisdictional boundaries including all counties that are required or choose to plan under RCW 36.70A.040 and are located west of the crest of the Cascade mountains and are not included in the Central Puget Sound board jurisdictional boundaries. Skamania county, should it be required or choose to plan under RCW 36.70A.040, may elect to be included within the jurisdictional boundaries of either the Western or Eastern board.

(2) Each board shall only hear matters pertaining to the cities and counties located within its jurisdictional boundaries.

Sec. 4. RCW 36.70A.270 and 1994 c 257 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

Each growth ((~~planning~~)) management hearings board shall be governed by the following rules on conduct and procedure:

(1) Any board member may be removed for inefficiency, malfeasance, and misfeasance in office, under specific written charges filed by the governor. The governor shall transmit such written charges to the member accused and the chief justice of the supreme court. The chief justice shall thereupon designate a tribunal composed of three judges of the superior court to hear and adjudicate the charges. Removal of any member of a board by the tribunal shall disqualify such member for reappointment.

(2) Each board member shall receive reimbursement for travel expenses incurred in the discharge of his or her duties in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. If it is determined that the review boards shall operate on a full-time basis, each member shall receive an annual salary to be determined by the governor pursuant to RCW 43.03.040. If it is determined that a review board shall operate on a part-time basis, each member shall receive compensation pursuant to RCW 43.03.250, provided such amount shall not exceed the amount that would be set if they were a full-time board member. The principal office of each board shall be located by the governor within the jurisdictional boundaries of each board. The boards shall operate on either a part-time or full-time basis, as determined by the governor.

(3) Each board member shall not: (a) Be a candidate for or hold any other public office or trust; (b) engage in any occupation or business interfering with or inconsistent with his or her duty as a board member; and (c) for a period of one year after the termination of his or her board membership, act in a representative capacity before the board on any matter.

(4) A majority of each board shall constitute a quorum for making orders or decisions, adopting rules necessary for the conduct of its powers and duties, or transacting other official business, and may act even though one position of the board is vacant. One or more members may hold hearings and take testimony to be reported for action by the board when authorized by rule or order of the board. The board shall perform all the powers and duties specified in this chapter or as otherwise provided by law.

(5) The board may appoint one or more hearing examiners to assist the board in its hearing function, to make conclusions of law and findings of fact and, if requested by the board, to make recommendations to the board for decisions in cases before the board. Such hearing examiners must have demonstrated knowledge of land use planning and law. The boards shall specify in their joint rules of practice and procedure, as required by subsection (7) of this section, the procedure and criteria to be employed for designating hearing examiners as a presiding officer. Hearing examiners selected by a board shall meet the requirements of subsection (3) of this section. The findings and conclusions of the hearing examiner shall not become final until they have been formally approved by the board. This authorization to use hearing examiners does not waive the requirement of RCW 36.70A.300 that final orders be issued within one hundred eighty days of board receipt of a petition.

(6) Each board shall make findings of fact and prepare a written decision in each case decided by it, and such findings and decision shall be effective upon being signed by two or more members of the board and upon being filed at the board's principal office, and shall be open for public inspection at all reasonable times.

(7) All proceedings before the board, any of its members, or a hearing examiner appointed by the board shall be conducted in accordance with such administrative rules of practice and procedure as the boards jointly prescribe. All three boards shall jointly meet to develop and adopt joint rules of practice and procedure, including rules regarding expeditious and summary disposition of appeals. The boards shall develop and adopt an abbreviated process for procedural challenges, including compliance with deadlines before which a county or city must act. The boards shall publish such rules and arrange for the reasonable distribution of the rules. The administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW, shall govern the administrative rules of practice and procedure adopted by the boards.

(8) A board member or hearing examiner is subject to disqualification for bias, prejudice, interest, or any other cause for which a judge is disqualified. The joint rules of practice of the boards shall establish procedures by which a party to a hearing conducted before the board may file with the board a motion to disqualify, with supporting affidavit, against a board member or hearing examiner assigned to preside at the hearing.

(9) The members of the boards shall meet jointly on at least an annual basis with the objective of sharing information that promotes the goals and purposes of this chapter.

Sec. 5. RCW 36.70A.280 and 1995 c 347 s 108 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A growth management hearings board shall hear and determine only those petitions alleging either:

(a) That a state agency, county, or city planning under this chapter is not in compliance with the requirements of this chapter, chapter 90.58 RCW as it relates to the adoption of shoreline master programs or amendments thereto, or chapter 43.21C RCW as it relates to plans, development regulations, or amendments, adopted under RCW 36.70A.040 or chapter 90.58 RCW; or

(b) That the twenty-year growth management planning population projections adopted by the office of financial management pursuant to RCW 43.62.035 should be adjusted.

(2) A petition may be filed only by the state, a county or city that plans under this chapter, or by a person who has either appeared before the county or city regarding the matter on which a review is being requested and can demonstrate a clear connection between his or her personal interests and the impact of the action of the county or city or is certified by the governor within sixty days of filing the request with the board((~~, or a person qualified pursuant to RCW 34.05.530~~)).

(3) For purposes of this section "person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, association, governmental subdivision or unit thereof, or public or private organization or entity of any character.

(4) When considering a possible adjustment to a growth management planning population projection prepared by the office of financial management, a board shall consider the implications of any such adjustment to the population forecast for the entire state.

The rationale for any adjustment that is adopted by a board must be documented and filed with the office of financial management within ten working days after adoption.

If adjusted by a board, a county growth management planning population projection shall only be used for the planning purposes set forth in this chapter and shall be known as a "board adjusted population projection". None of these changes shall affect the official state and county population forecasts prepared by the office of financial management, which shall continue to be used for state budget and planning purposes.

Sec. 6. RCW 36.70A.290 and 1995 c 347 s 109 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) All requests for review to a growth management hearings board shall be initiated by filing a petition that includes a detailed statement of issues presented for resolution by the board.

(2) All petitions relating to whether or not an adopted comprehensive plan, development regulation, or permanent amendment thereto, is in compliance with the goals and requirements of this chapter or chapter 90.58 or 43.21C RCW must be filed within sixty days after publication by the legislative bodies of the county or city.

(a) Except as provided in (c) of this subsection, the date of publication for a city shall be the date the city publishes the ordinance, or summary of the ordinance, adopting the comprehensive plan or development regulations, or amendment thereto, as is required to be published.

(b) Promptly after adoption, a county shall publish a notice that it has adopted the comprehensive plan or development regulations, or amendment thereto.

Except as provided in (c) of this subsection, for purposes of this section the date of publication for a county shall be the date the county publishes the notice that it has adopted the comprehensive plan or development regulations, or amendment thereto.

(c) For local governments planning under RCW 36.70A.040, promptly after approval or disapproval of a local government’s shoreline master program or amendment thereto by the department of ecology as provided in RCW 90.58.090, the local government shall publish a notice that the shoreline master program or amendment thereto has been approved or disapproved by the department of ecology. For purposes of this section, the date of publication for the adoption or amendment of a shoreline master program is the date the local government publishes notice that the shoreline master program or amendment thereto has been approved or disapproved by the department of ecology.

(3) Unless the board dismisses the petition as frivolous or finds that the person filing the petition lacks standing, the board shall, within ten days of receipt of the petition, set a time for hearing the matter.

(4) The board shall base its decision on the record developed by the city, county, or the state and supplemented with additional evidence if the board determines that such additional evidence would be necessary or of substantial assistance to the board in reaching its decision.

(5) The board, shall consolidate, when appropriate, all petitions involving the review of the same comprehensive plan or the same development regulation or regulations.

(6) In order to facilitate timely action on subsequent requirements of this chapter, the board shall assign highest priority to petitions involving a challenge to county‑wide planning policies and make every effort to issue decisions on county-wide planning policies in less than one hundred eighty days.

Sec. 7. RCW 36.70A.300 and 1995 c 347 s 110 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The board shall issue a final order within one hundred eighty days of receipt of the petition for review, or, when multiple petitions are filed, within one hundred eighty days of receipt of the last petition that is consolidated. Such a final order shall be based exclusively on whether or not a state agency, county, or city is in compliance with the requirements of this chapter, chapter 90.58 RCW as it relates to adoption or amendment of shoreline master programs, or chapter 43.21C RCW as it relates to plans, development regulations, and amendments thereto, adopted under RCW 36.70A.040 or chapter 90.58 RCW. In the final order, the board shall either: (a) Find that the state agency, county, or city is in compliance with the requirements of this chapter or chapter 90.58 RCW as it relates to the adoption or amendment of shoreline master programs; or (b) find that the state agency, county, or city is not in compliance with the requirements of this chapter or chapter 90.58 RCW as it relates to the adoption or amendment of shoreline master programs, in which case the board shall remand the matter to the affected state agency, county, or city and specify a reasonable time not in excess of one hundred eighty days within which the state agency, county, or city shall comply with the requirements of this chapter.

(2) A finding of noncompliance and an order of remand shall not affect the validity of comprehensive plans and development regulations adopted under this chapter during the period of remand, unless the board's final order also:

(a) Includes a determination, supported by findings of fact and conclusions of law, that the continued validity of the plan or regulation would substantially interfere with the fulfillment of the goals of this chapter; and

(b) Specifies the particular part or parts of the plan or regulation that are determined to be invalid, and the reasons for their invalidity.

(3) A determination of invalidity shall:

(a) Be prospective in effect and shall not extinguish rights that vested under state or local law before the date of the board's order; and

(b) Subject any development application that would otherwise vest after the date of the board's order to the local ordinance or resolution that both is enacted in response to the order of remand and determined by the board pursuant to RCW 36.70A.330 to comply with the requirements of this chapter.

(4) If the ordinance that adopts a plan or development regulation under this chapter includes a savings clause intended to revive prior policies or regulations in the event the new plan or regulations are determined to be invalid, the board shall determine under subsection (2) of this section whether the prior policies or regulations are valid during the period of remand.

(5) Any party aggrieved by a final decision of the hearings board may appeal the decision to superior court as provided in RCW 34.05.514 or 36.01.050 within thirty days of the final order of the board.

Sec. 8. RCW 36.70A.310 and 1994 c 249 s 32 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A request for review by the state to a growth management hearings board may be made only by the governor, or with the governor's consent the head of an agency, or by the commissioner of public lands as relating to state trust lands, for the review of whether: ((~~(1)~~)) (a) A county or city that is required or chooses to plan under RCW 36.70A.040 has failed to adopt a comprehensive plan or development regulations, or county-wide planning policies within the time limits established by this chapter; or ((~~(2)~~)) (b) a county or city that is required or chooses to plan under this chapter has adopted a comprehensive plan, development regulations, or county-wide planning policies, that are not in compliance with the requirements of this chapter.

(2) Except as provided in subsection (1) of this section with regard to state trust lands, a state agency may be authorized to seek review by a growth management hearings board only if the governor finds that the agency has participated substantially in the local process, and has in oral or written testimony raised the issues included in the petition for review.

Sec. 9. RCW 36.70A.320 and 1995 c 347 s 111 are each amended to read as follows:

(1)(a) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, designations, comprehensive plans ((~~and~~)), development regulations, other actions required under this chapter, and amendments thereto, adopted under this chapter are presumed valid upon adoption. In any petition under this chapter, the board, after full consideration of the petition, shall determine whether there is compliance with the requirements of this chapter. In making its determination, the board shall consider the criteria adopted by the department under RCW 36.70A.190(4). The board shall uphold a decision by a county or city made in reliance on the procedural criteria but shall not use those criteria as a minimum which must be adopted by a county or city.

(b) The board shall find compliance by the county or city unless it finds ((~~by a preponderance of the evidence that the state agency, county, or city erroneously interpreted or applied~~)) that the designation or adoption either: (i) Was predicated upon an interpretation of this chapter or chapter 43.21C RCW that is clearly erroneous; or (ii) is not supported by substantial evidence. The board shall not substitute its judgment for that of county or city elected officials and shall defer to decisions by county and city officials on matters not specifically addressed in this chapter. When determining whether a comprehensive plan is in compliance with the requirements of this chapter, the board shall find compliance if the plan as a whole satisfies the goals of this chapter.

(c) In making its determination, the board shall take into consideration the population of the county or city and its extent of urbanization, the planning history and capabilities of the county or city, and the relative amount of financial assistance made available to the county or city by the state for purposes of complying with the planning and infrastructure requirements of this chapter.

(d) A board may excuse a county or city from compliance with the requirements of this chapter that are unnecessary to satisfy the goals of this chapter and may also excuse a county or city from compliance with deadlines established by this chapter.

(2) The shoreline element of a comprehensive plan and the applicable development regulations adopted by a county or city shall take effect as provided in chapter 90.58 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. A new section is added to chapter 36.70A RCW to read as follows:

A board shall not enter a finding of noncompliance with deadlines before which a county or city must act, whether established under this chapter or by a board order, when the county and the cities within the county have adopted an agreement that establishes a different deadline in recognition of unique local circumstances.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. A new section is added to chapter 36.70A RCW to read as follows:

The office of the attorney general shall, at the request of a county or city that has been found in compliance with this chapter by a growth management hearings board, defend or provide legal assistance, either directly or in the form of reimbursement, in the county's or city's legal defense of any appeal of a board final decision in superior or appellate court.