HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2208

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                Government Reform & Land Use

Title:  An act relating to collaborative review of multijurisdictional projects.

Brief Description:  Establishing collaborative review of multijurisdictional projects.

Sponsors:  Representatives Cairnes, L. Thomas and Benson.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Government Reform & Land Use:  3/3/97 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REFORM & LAND USE

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 7 members:  Representatives Reams, Chairman; Cairnes, Vice Chairman; Sherstad, Vice Chairman; Bush; Mielke; Mulliken and Thompson.

Minority Report:  Without recommendation.  Signed by 3 members:  Representatives Romero, Ranking Minority Member; Lantz, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; and Gardner.

Staff:  Joan Elgee (786-7135).

Background:  The Growth Management Act (GMA) was adopted in 1990 and 1991.  The GMA requires counties meeting certain population and growth criteria, and the cities within those counties, to adopt comprehensive plans and development regulations consistent with the plans.

In 1994, as part of legislation relating to environmental permit processes for the Department of Transportation, the Legislature directed counties planning under the GMA to establish a collaborative process to review and coordinate state and local permits for all transportation projects that cross more than one city or county boundary.  The Legislature also directed that a mechanism be established among affected cities and counties to designate a permit coordinating agency to facilitate multijurisdictional review and approval of transportation projects.

Summary of Bill:  The collaborative process for counties planning under the Growth Management Act to review and coordinate state and local permits for projects that cross more than one city or county boundary is no longer limited to transportation projects.  The process must be administered by metropolitan planning organizations.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This is a clean-up bill which assigns the function of coordinating review and approval of projects which cross boundaries.

Testimony Against:  Concern was expressed about local decisions being taken over by metropolitan planning organizations.

Testified:  Representative Cairnes (pro); and Paul Parker, Washington State Association of Counties (comments).