H-0804.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1474
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State of Washington 55th Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By Representatives Reams, Cairnes, Lisk, Sherstad, Sheldon, Sheahan, Pennington, Hatfield, Koster, Dunn, Doumit, McMorris, Alexander, Thompson, Bush, McDonald, Delvin, Wensman and Mulliken
Read first time 01/28/97. Referred to Committee on Government Reform & Land Use.
AN ACT Relating to increasing categorical exemptions from the state environmental policy act within areas designated as urban growth areas under the growth management act; and adding a new section to chapter 43.21C RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 43.21C RCW to read as follows:
The department of ecology shall adopt rules increasing categorical exemptions for minor new construction and minor land use decisions within urban growth areas designated under RCW 36.70A.110 beyond categorical exemptions for minor new construction and minor land use decisions in any area outside of those designated urban growth areas.
These rules shall provide for increased levels of minor new construction and minor land use decisions that are categorically exempt within an urban growth area and expand the authority of a county, city, or town to raise the exemption level for minor new construction activities and minor land use decisions occurring within an urban growth area beyond the level specified by the department. At a minimum, the increase in minor new construction and minor new land use decisions that are categorically exempt within an urban growth area shall include approvals of the: (1) Construction of or location of any residential structures of ten or fewer dwelling units; (2) construction of an office, school, commercial, recreational, service, or storage building with eight thousand or fewer square feet of gross floor area, and with associated parking facilities; (3) construction of a parking lot designed for forty or fewer automobiles; and (4) division of land into ten or fewer lots or parcels.
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