SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6482

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

            Government Operations, February 6, 1998

Title:  An act relating to time limits for local project review under the growth management act.

Brief Description:  Calculating the time limits for local project review under the growth management act.

Sponsors:  Senators Horn, Haugen and McCaslin.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Government Operations:  2/3/98, 2/6/98 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6482 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chair; Hale, Vice Chair; Haugen, Horn and T. Sheldon.

Staff:  Genevieve Pisarski (786-7488)

Background:  Local governments that plan under the growth management act are required to issue final decisions on project permit applications within 120 days of giving notice that the application is complete.  Exclusions from the 120-day time limit include specified periods of time for corrections, studies, additional information, environmental impact statements, and appeals, and any mutually agreed upon extensions of time.  If they apply to land, buildings, or structures within a community municipal corporation, the permit decisions of a city or town are subject to the approval of the community municipal corporation council.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  For applications subject to the authority of a community municipal corporation council, the interval between the local government's final decision and the community council's final decision, but not more than 60 days, is added to existing exclusions from the 12-day time limit for final decisions on project permit applications.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The intent to retain the amount of time that is currently allowed for community council review is clarified.  The exclusion remains in effect so long as the 120-day time limit remains in effect.                                          

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For: It is not possible to exercise a community council's land use authority and complete permit decisions within 120 days.  It is unclear, however, whether the time for community council review will be accommodated.

Testimony Against: Community councils are archaic and interfere with the permitting process.

Testified:  Connie Marshall, Faith Lumsden, Bob Mack, city of Bellevue; Daniel Turner, Kathleen McMonigal, Houghton Council, city of Kirkland; Jodi Walker, BIAW; Jim Kenney, Sammamish Community Council; Ken Seal, East Bellevue Community Council; Glen Hudson, Realtors.