H-2310

AN ACT Relating to growth management; amending RCW 36.70A.010, 36.70A.020, 36.70A.030, 36.70A.050, 36.70A.060, 36.70A.070, 36.70A.110, 36.70A.130, 36.70A.160, 36.70A.210, 36.70A.370, 76.09.050, 36.70B.010, 36.70B.020, 36.70B.040, 36.70B.060, 36.70B.070, 36.70B.090, 36.70B.110, 36.70B.120, 36.70B.130, 36.70B.140, and 36.70B.160; amending 1995 c 347 s 433 (uncodified); adding new sections to chapter 36.70A RCW; creating a new section; repealing RCW 36.70B.030 and 36.70B.080; repealing 1995 c 347 s 411 (uncodified); and declaring an emergency.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 36.70A.010 and 1990 1st ex.s. c 17 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

The legislature finds that uncoordinated and unplanned growth, together with a lack of common goals expressing the public's interest in the conservation and the wise use of our lands, pose a threat to the environment, sustainable economic development, and the health, safety, and high quality of life enjoyed by residents of this state. The legislature also finds that private property rights should be protected. It is in the public interest that citizens, communities, local governments, and the private sector cooperate and coordinate with one another in comprehensive land use planning. Further, the legislature finds that it is in the public interest that economic development programs be shared with communities experiencing insufficient economic growth.

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 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~~)) including 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. Counties and cities shall issue permits for single-family residential construction within seven business days of application. Counties and cities shall issue permits for multifamily construction within thirty days of application. Counties and cities shall issue permits for short-plat applications within thirty days of application and long-subdivision applications within ninety days of application.

(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 from hazards and nuisances and ((~~enhance~~)) maintain 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~~)) property owners and jurisdictions to reconcile conflicts.

(12) Public facilities and services. Ensure that those public facilities and services necessary to support development shall be ((~~adequate~~)) planned to ((~~serve~~)) provide services to the development at the time the development is available for occupancy ((~~and use without decreasing current service levels below locally established minimum standards~~)). A city that operates public facilities and services shall serve within its service area if service is technically feasible and in compliance with local regulations.

A city that provides water or sewer service outside the corporate boundaries of the city shall not require, as a condition of providing water or sewer service, the property owner who has requested water or sewer service to agree to:

(a) Lot sizes different from those required by the jurisdiction with zoning authority over the property; or

(b) Other development or design requirements not required by the local government with jurisdiction over the property.

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

(14) Equal protection of property owners' rights. Property owners have the prospective right to those existing uses of similar adjacent properties within the same zoning designation.

Sec. 3. RCW 36.70A.030 and 1995 c 382 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Adopt a comprehensive land use plan" means to enact a new comprehensive land use plan or to update an existing comprehensive land use plan.

(2) "Agricultural land" means land primarily devoted to the commercial production of horticultural, viticultural, floricultural, dairy, apiary, vegetable, or animal products or of berries, grain, hay, straw, turf, seed, Christmas trees not subject to the excise tax imposed by RCW 84.33.100 through 84.33.140, finfish in upland hatcheries, or livestock, and that has long-term commercial significance for agricultural production.

(3) "City" means any city or town, including a code city.

(4) "Comprehensive land use plan," "comprehensive plan," or "plan" means a generalized coordinated land use policy statement of the governing body of a county or city that is adopted pursuant to this chapter.

(5) "Critical areas" include the following areas and ecosystems: (a) Wetlands, limited to the United States army corps of engineers' definition of wetlands, as now existing or subsequently amended under its authority, under section 401 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. Sec. 1344; (b) areas with a documented critical ((~~recharging~~)) recharge effect ((on)) that is necessary for the health and sanitation of aquifers used for potable water; (c) fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas as limited in chapter 75.20 RCW; (d) frequently flooded areas no larger than areas within one hundred year flood plains under Title 86 RCW; and (e) geologically hazardous areas.

(6) "Department" means the department of community, trade, and economic development.

(7) "Development regulations" means the controls placed on development or land use activities by a county or city, ((~~including, but not limited to,~~)) zoning ordinances, critical areas ordinances, shoreline master programs, shoreline management act provisions, or official controls, ((~~planned unit development ordinances, subdivision ordinances, and binding site plan ordinances together with any amendments thereto~~)) each with their own separate approval processes. A development regulation does not include a decision to approve a project permit application, as defined in RCW 36.70B.020, even though the decision may be expressed in a resolution or ordinance of the legislative body of the county or city.

(8) "Forest land" means land primarily devoted to growing trees for long-term commercial timber production on land that can be economically and practically managed for such production, including Christmas trees subject to the excise tax imposed under RCW 84.33.100 through 84.33.140, and that has long-term commercial significance. In determining whether forest land is primarily devoted to growing trees for long-term commercial timber production on land that can be economically and practically managed for such production, the following factors shall be considered: (a) The proximity of the land to urban, suburban, and rural settlements; (b) surrounding parcel size and the compatibility and intensity of adjacent and nearby land uses; (c) long-term local economic conditions that affect the ability to manage for timber production; and (d) the availability of public facilities and services conducive to conversion of forest land to other uses.

(9) "Geologically hazardous areas" means areas that because of their susceptibility to erosion, sliding, earthquake, or other geological events, are not suited to the siting of commercial, residential, or industrial development consistent with public health or safety concerns. The county or city has the burden of proving geologically hazardous areas exist and cannot safely support development. The cost of this burden shall not be borne by the property owner.

(10) "Long-term commercial significance" includes the growing capacity, productivity, and soil composition of the land for long-term commercial production, in consideration with the land's proximity to population areas, and the possibility of more intense uses of the land.

(11) "Minerals" include gravel, sand, and valuable metallic substances.

(12) "Public facilities" include streets, roads, highways, sidewalks, street and road lighting systems, traffic signals, domestic water systems, storm and sanitary sewer systems, parks and recreational facilities, and schools.

(13) "Public services" include fire protection and suppression, law enforcement, public health, education, and recreation((~~, environmental protection, and other governmental services~~)).

(14) "Service area" means a specific geographic area serviced or for which service is planned by a purveyor.

(15) "Urban growth" refers to growth that makes intensive use of land for the location of buildings, structures, and impermeable surfaces to ((such a degree as to be incompatible with the primary use of such land for the production of food, other agricultural products, or fiber, or the extraction of mineral resources. When allowed to spread over wide areas, urban growth)) provide for housing, business, and commerce, which typically requires urban governmental services. "Characterized by urban growth" refers to land ((~~having~~)) that: (a) Has urban growth located on it, or to land located in relationship to an area with urban growth on it ((~~as to be appropriate for urban growth~~)); or (b) is so located in relationship to facilities, infrastructure, and services as to make urban growth on the land feasible through public or private extensions of service.

((~~(15)~~)) (16) "Urban growth areas" means those areas designated by a county pursuant to RCW 36.70A.110.

((~~(16)~~)) (17) "Urban governmental services" include those governmental services historically and typically delivered by cities, and include storm and sanitary sewer systems, domestic water systems, street cleaning services, fire and police protection services, public transit services, and other public utilities associated with urban areas ((~~and normally not associated with nonurban areas~~)).

((~~(17)~~)) (18) "Wetland" or "wetlands" means areas that are inundated or saturated by surface water or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas. Wetlands are limited to wetlands under the United States army corps of engineers' definition under section 401 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. Sec. 1344, as now existing or hereafter amended. Wetlands do not include those artificial wetlands intentionally created from nonwetland sites, including, but not limited to, irrigation and drainage ditches, grass-lined swales, canals, detention facilities, wastewater treatment facilities, farm ponds, and landscape amenities, or those wetlands created after July 1, 1990, that were unintentionally created as a result of the construction of a road, street, or highway. Wetlands may include those artificial wetlands intentionally created from nonwetland areas created to mitigate conversion of wetlands.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A project for which a federal permit is obtained under section 404 of the Clean Water Act is exempt from the department of ecology water quality certification process under the Clean Water Act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Land developing under this chapter is exempt from RCW 76.09.050. For the purposes of this section, "land developing" means the division or platting of land in preparation for development or the actual building, constructing, or erecting of residences or commercial buildings.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Critical areas shall be regulated only for the limited purpose of protecting the public's health and safety.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Development regulations shall only be adopted for the limited purpose of protecting the public's health and safety.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. Geologically hazardous areas are not restricted from development activities unless a city or county meets its burden to prove that the identified geologic conditions preclude the safe siting of commercial, residential, or industrial development.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. Outside an established urban growth area, if a project applicant has an approved water system and an approval for sewer or a septic tank system, the city or county shall issue permits necessary for building single-family residences.

Sec. 10. RCW 36.70A.050 and 1990 1st ex.s. c 17 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Subject to the definitions provided in RCW 36.70A.030, the department shall adopt guidelines, under chapter 34.05 RCW, no later than September 1, 1990, and shall amend these guidelines to conform to this chapter by December 31, 1997, to guide the classification of: (a) Agricultural lands; (b) forest lands; (c) mineral resource lands; and (d) critical areas. The department shall consult with the department of agriculture regarding guidelines for agricultural lands, the department of natural resources regarding forest lands and mineral resource lands, and the department of ecology regarding critical areas.

(2) In carrying out its duties under this section, the department shall consult with interested parties, including but not limited to: (a) Representatives of cities; (b) representatives of counties; (c) representatives of developers; (d) representatives of builders; (e) representatives of owners of agricultural lands, forest lands, and mining lands; (f) representatives of local economic development officials; (g) representatives of environmental organizations; (h) representatives of special districts; (i) representatives of the governor's office and federal and state agencies; and (j) representatives of Indian tribes. In addition to the consultation required under this subsection, the department shall conduct public hearings in the various regions of the state. The department shall consider the public input obtained at such public hearings when adopting the guidelines.

(3) The guidelines under subsection (1) of this section shall ((~~be minimum guidelines that~~)) apply to all jurisdictions((~~, but also shall allow for regional differences that exist in Washington state~~)). The intent of these guidelines is to assist counties and cities in designating the classification of agricultural lands, forest lands, mineral resource lands, and critical areas under RCW 36.70A.170. Counties and cities may not designate lands as resource lands or critical areas that do not qualify under the guidelines.

(4) The guidelines established by the department under this section regarding classification of forest lands shall not be inconsistent with guidelines adopted by the department of natural resources.

Sec. 11. RCW 36.70A.060 and 1991 sp.s. c 32 s 21 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Each county that is required or chooses to plan under RCW 36.70A.040, and each city within such county, shall adopt development regulations on or before September 1, 1991, to assure the conservation of agricultural, forest, and mineral resource lands designated under RCW 36.70A.170. Regulations adopted under this subsection may not prohibit uses legally existing on any parcel prior to their adoption and shall remain in effect until the county or city adopts development regulations pursuant to RCW 36.70A.120. ((Such regulations shall assure that the use of lands adjacent to agricultural, forest, or mineral resource lands shall not interfere with the continued use, in the accustomed manner and in accordance with best management practices, of these designated lands for the production of food, agricultural products, or timber, or for the extraction of minerals.)) Counties and cities shall require that all plats, short plats, development permits, and building permits issued for development activities on, or within three hundred feet of, lands designated as agricultural lands, forest lands, or mineral resource lands, contain a notice that the subject property is within or near designated agricultural lands, forest lands, or mineral resource lands on which a variety of commercial activities may occur that are not compatible with residential development for certain periods of limited duration.

(2) Each county and city shall adopt development regulations that protect critical areas from hazards and health and safety risks that are required to be designated under RCW 36.70A.170. For counties and cities that are required or choose to plan under RCW 36.70A.040, such development regulations shall be adopted on or before September 1, 1991. For the remainder of the counties and cities, such development regulations shall be adopted on or before March 1, 1992, but cities and counties shall amend their development regulations to conform with this chapter by December 1, 1997.

(3) Such counties and cities shall review these designations and development regulations when adopting their comprehensive plans under RCW 36.70A.040 and implementing development regulations under RCW 36.70A.120 ((~~and may alter such designations and development regulations to insure consistency~~)).

(4) Forest land and agricultural land located within urban growth areas shall not be designated by a county or city as forest land or agricultural land of long-term commercial significance under RCW 36.70A.170 ((~~unless the city or county has enacted a program authorizing transfer or purchase of development rights~~)).

Sec. 12. RCW 36.70A.070 and 1996 c 239 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

The comprehensive plan of a county or city that is required or chooses to plan under RCW 36.70A.040 shall consist of a map or maps, and descriptive text covering objectives, principles, and standards used to develop the comprehensive plan. The plan shall be an internally consistent document and all elements shall be consistent with the future land use map. A comprehensive plan shall be adopted and amended with public participation as provided in RCW 36.70A.140.

Each comprehensive plan shall include a plan, scheme, or design for each of the following:

(1) A land use element designating the proposed general distribution and general location and extent of the uses of land, where appropriate, for agriculture, timber production, housing, commerce, industry, recreation, open spaces, general aviation airports, public utilities, public facilities, and other land uses. ((The land use element shall include population densities, building intensities, and estimates of future population growth. The land use element shall provide for protection of the quality and quantity of ground water used for public water supplies. Where applicable, the land use element shall review drainage, flooding, and storm water run-off in the area and nearby jurisdictions and provide guidance for corrective actions to mitigate or cleanse those discharges that pollute waters of the state, including Puget Sound or waters entering Puget Sound.))

(2) A housing element ensuring the vitality and character of established residential neighborhoods that: (a) Includes an inventory and analysis of existing and projected housing needs; (b) includes a statement of goals, policies, objectives, and mandatory provisions for the preservation, improvement, and development of housing, including single-family residences; (c) identifies sufficient land for housing((~~, including, but not limited to, government-assisted housing, housing for low-income families, manufactured housing, multifamily housing, and group homes and foster care facilities~~)); and (d) makes adequate provisions for existing and projected needs of all economic segments of the community, except that counties and cities shall not require private projects to include or provide low-income housing as a condition of issuing a permit or granting a land-use approval.

(3) A capital facilities plan element consisting of: (a) An inventory of existing capital facilities owned by public entities, showing the locations and capacities of the capital facilities; (b) a forecast of the future needs for such capital facilities; (c) the proposed locations and capacities of expanded or new capital facilities; and (d) at least a six-year plan that will finance such capital facilities within projected funding capacities and clearly identifies sources of public money for such purposes((; and (e) a requirement to reassess the land use element if probable funding falls short of meeting existing needs and to ensure that the land use element, capital facilities plan element, and financing plan within the capital facilities plan element are coordinated and consistent)).

(4) A utilities element consisting of the general location, proposed location, and capacity of all existing and proposed utilities, including, but not limited to, electrical lines, telecommunication lines, and natural gas lines.

(5) Counties shall include a rural element ((~~including lands that are not designated for urban growth, agriculture, forest, or mineral resources~~)). The rural element shall permit appropriate land uses that are compatible with the rural character of such lands and provide for a variety of rural densities and uses and may also provide for clustering, density transfer, design guidelines, conservation easements, and other innovative techniques that will accommodate appropriate rural uses not characterized by urban growth. For the purposes of this subsection, "compatible with the rural character of such lands" means development of less than ten single-family residential units on any recorded parcel by a property owner.

(6) A transportation element that implements, and is consistent with, the land use element. The transportation element shall include the following subelements:

(a) Land use assumptions used in estimating travel;

(b) Facilities and services needs, including:

(i) An inventory of air, water, and ground transportation facilities and services, including transit alignments and general aviation airport facilities, to define existing capital facilities and travel levels as a basis for future planning;

(ii) Level of service standards for all arterials and transit routes to serve as a gauge to judge performance of the system. These standards should be regionally coordinated;

(iii) Specific actions ((~~and requirements~~)), by using motor vehicle excise tax and gas tax funds, for bringing into compliance any facilities or services that are below an established level of service standard;

(iv) Forecasts of traffic for at least ten years based on the adopted land use plan to provide information on the location, timing, and capacity needs of future growth;

(v) Identification of system expansion needs and transportation system management needs to meet current and future demands;

(i) An analysis of funding capability to judge needs against probable funding resources;

(ii) A multiyear financing plan based on the needs identified in the comprehensive plan, the appropriate parts of which shall serve as the basis for the six-year street, road, or transit program required by RCW 35.77.010 for cities, RCW 36.81.121 for counties, and RCW 35.58.2795 for public transportation systems;

(iii) If probable funding falls short of meeting identified needs, a discussion of how additional funding will be raised((~~, or how land use assumptions will be reassessed~~)) to ensure that level of service standards will be met;

(d) Intergovernmental coordination efforts, including an assessment of the impacts of the transportation plan and land use assumptions on the transportation systems of adjacent jurisdictions;

(e) Demand-management strategies.

After adoption of the comprehensive plan by jurisdictions required to plan or who choose to plan under RCW 36.70A.040, local jurisdictions must adopt and enforce ordinances ((which prohibit development approval if the development causes the level of service on a transportation facility to decline below the standards adopted in the transportation element of the comprehensive plan, unless transportation improvements or strategies to accommodate the impacts of development are made concurrent with the development. These)) that provide strategies that may include increased public transportation service, ride sharing programs, demand management, and other transportation systems management strategies. ((For the purposes of this subsection (6) "concurrent with the development" shall mean that improvements or strategies are in place at the time of development, or that a financial commitment is in place to complete the improvements or strategies within six years.))

The transportation element described in this subsection, and the six-year plans required by RCW 35.77.010 for cities, RCW 36.81.121 for counties, and RCW 35.58.2795 for public transportation systems, must be consistent.

Sec. 13. RCW 36.70A.110 and 1995 c 400 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Each county that is required or chooses to plan under RCW 36.70A.040 shall designate an urban growth area or areas within which urban growth shall be encouraged ((~~and outside of which growth can occur only if it is not urban in nature~~)). Each city that is located in such a county shall be included within an urban growth area. An urban growth area may include more than a single city. An urban growth area ((~~may~~)) shall include territory that is located outside of a city ((only if such territory already is characterized by urban growth whether or not the urban growth area includes a city, or is adjacent to territory already characterized by urban growth, or is a designated new fully contained community as defined by RCW 36.70A.350)) when a county determines the territory is necessary to provide an adequate land supply to expand the urban growth boundaries beyond the boundaries of existing cities. However, a county's designated urban growth areas shall be at least large enough to accommodate all projected growth and all growth that actually occurs. Cities and counties shall designate urban growth areas that favor expansive delineation of these areas.

(2) ((~~Based upon the growth management population projection made for the county by the office of financial management,~~)) The urban growth areas in the county shall include areas and densities sufficient to permit the urban growth that is projected to occur in the county for the succeeding twenty-year period. The office of financial management may be a source for which counties base their population forecasts. Counties may add their own calculations to the office of financial management's population projections. Each urban growth area shall permit urban densities and shall include greenbelt and open space areas. An urban growth area determination may include a reasonable land market supply factor and shall permit a range of urban densities and uses. In determining this market factor, cities and counties may consider local circumstances. Cities and counties have discretion in their comprehensive plans to make many choices about accommodating growth.

Within one year of July 1, 1990, each county that as of June 1, 1991, was required or chose to plan under RCW 36.70A.040, shall begin consulting with each city located within its boundaries and each city shall propose the location of an urban growth area. Within sixty days of the date the county legislative authority of a county adopts its resolution of intention or of certification by the office of financial management, all other counties that are required or choose to plan under RCW 36.70A.040 shall begin this consultation with each city located within its boundaries. The county shall attempt to reach agreement with each city on the location of an urban growth area within which the city is located. If such an agreement is not reached with each city located within the urban growth area, the county shall justify in writing why it so designated the area an urban growth area. A city may object formally with the department over the designation of the urban growth area within which it is located. Where appropriate, the department shall attempt to resolve the conflicts, including the use of mediation services. This section is intended to establish only a minimum standard for the size of urban growth areas. This section neither limits the discretion of counties to include an ample land supply within urban growth areas nor compels counties to limit or disregard existing property rights.

(3)(a) Urban growth should be located ((~~first~~)) in areas already characterized by urban growth that have adequate existing public facility and service capacities to serve such development, ((~~second~~)) in areas already characterized by urban growth that will be served adequately by a combination of both existing public facilities and services and any additional needed public facilities and services that are provided by either public or private sources, and ((~~third~~)) in the remaining portions of the urban growth areas. Urban growth may also be located in designated new fully contained communities as defined by RCW 36.70A.350. This chapter does not limit the common law duty of a public utility, whether publicly or privately owned, to make service available to all within its franchise area and within areas as to which a public utility has held itself out as a provider of service. "Public utility," as used in this subsection, refers to a private entity or municipal or quasi-municipal corporation that provides electricity, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, water, telephone, cable television, communications services, or natural gas to the public.

(b) In addition to (a) of this subsection, a city that provides water or sewer service outside the corporate boundaries of the city shall not require, as a condition of providing water or sewer service, the property owner who has requested water or sewer service to agree to:

(i) Lot sizes different from those required by the jurisdiction with zoning authority over the property; or

(ii) Other development or design requirements not required by the local government with jurisdiction over the property.

(4) In general, cities are the units of local government most appropriate to provide urban governmental services. In general, it is not appropriate that urban governmental services be extended to or expanded in rural areas except in those limited circumstances shown to be necessary to protect basic public health and safety and the environment and when such services are financially supportable at rural densities and do not permit urban development.

(5) On or before October 1, 1993, each county that was initially required to plan under RCW 36.70A.040(1) shall adopt development regulations designating interim urban growth areas under this chapter. Within three years and three months of the date the county legislative authority of a county adopts its resolution of intention or of certification by the office of financial management, all other counties that are required or choose to plan under RCW 36.70A.040 shall adopt development regulations designating interim urban growth areas under this chapter. Adoption of the interim urban growth areas may only occur after public notice; public hearing; and compliance with the state environmental policy act, chapter 43.21C RCW, and RCW 36.70A.110. Such action may be appealed to the appropriate growth management hearings board under RCW 36.70A.280. Final urban growth areas shall be adopted at the time of comprehensive plan adoption under this chapter.

(6) Each county shall include designations of urban growth areas in its comprehensive plan.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. (1) A county or city that downzones any property, in the course of planning, bears the burden of proving, by clear and convincing evidence, that the downzone is justified by reference to the common law standards governing downzones and is indispensable to government achieving compliance with this chapter.

(2) The standard set forth in subsection (1) of this section applies to a downzone regardless of whether that downzone is quasi-judicial or legislative in nature.

(3) A county or city proposing a downzone shall give timely notice of the proceedings to each affected property owner and shall provide each individual property owner with a separate quasi-judicial hearing in accordance with local procedure. Commencement of a downzone proceeding against a property owner must be by written petition, setting forth in full detail the facts, circumstances, and theories upon which the entity's claim is based. The county or city shall not prove any ground for the downzone not specifically pled.

(4) A proceeding for a downzone shall not be commenced within five years of the determination of another downzone proceeding relating to the same property.

(5) A property owner who prevails in a proceeding under this section shall recover reasonable attorneys' fees, expert witness fees, and costs.

Sec. 15. RCW 36.70A.130 and 1995 c 347 s 106 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Each comprehensive land use plan and development regulations shall be subject to continuing evaluation and review by the county or city that adopted them.

Any amendment or revision to a comprehensive land use plan shall conform to this chapter, and any change to development regulations shall be consistent with and implement the comprehensive plan.

(2)(a) Each county and city shall establish and broadly disseminate to the public a public participation program identifying procedures whereby proposed amendments or revisions of the comprehensive plan are considered by the governing body of the county or city no more frequently than once every year except that amendments may be considered more frequently under the following circumstances:

(i) The initial adoption of a subarea plan; and

(ii) The adoption or amendment of a shoreline master program under the procedures set forth in chapter 90.58 RCW.

(b) All proposals shall be considered by the governing body concurrently so the cumulative effect of the various proposals can be ascertained. However, after appropriate public participation a county or city may adopt amendments or revisions to its comprehensive plan that conform with this chapter whenever an emergency exists or to resolve an appeal of a comprehensive plan filed with a growth management hearings board or with the court.

(3) Each county that designates urban growth areas under RCW 36.70A.110 shall review, at least ((~~every ten years~~)) annually, its designated urban growth area or areas, and the densities permitted within both the incorporated and unincorporated portions of each urban growth area. In conjunction with this review by the county, each city located within an urban growth area shall review the densities permitted within its boundaries, and the extent to which the urban growth occurring within the county has located within each city and the unincorporated portions of the urban growth areas. The county comprehensive plan designating urban growth areas, and the densities permitted in the urban growth areas by the comprehensive plans of the county and each city located within the urban growth areas, shall be revised to accommodate the urban growth projected to occur in the county for the succeeding twenty-year period.

Sec. 16. RCW 36.70A.160 and 1992 c 227 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

Each county and city that is required or chooses to prepare a comprehensive land use plan under RCW 36.70A.040 shall identify open space corridors within and between urban growth areas. They shall include lands useful for recreation, wildlife habitat, trails, and connection of critical areas as defined in RCW 36.70A.030. Identification of a corridor under this section by a county or city shall not restrict the use or management of lands within the corridor for agricultural or forest purposes. Restrictions on the use or management of such lands for agricultural or forest purposes imposed after identification solely to maintain or enhance the value of such lands as a corridor may occur only if the county or city acquires sufficient interest to prevent development of the lands or to control the resource development of the lands. The requirement for acquisition of sufficient interest does not include those corridors regulated by the interstate commerce commission, under provisions of 16 U.S.C. Sec. 1247(d), 16 U.S.C. Sec. 1248, or 43 U.S.C. Sec. 912. ((~~Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to alter the authority of the state, or a county or city, to regulate land use activities.~~)) 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.

The city or county may acquire by donation or purchase the fee simple or lesser interests in these open space corridors using funds authorized by RCW 84.34.230 or other sources.

Sec. 17. RCW 36.70A.210 and 1994 c 249 s 28 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The legislature recognizes that counties are regional governments within their boundaries, and cities are primary providers of urban governmental services within urban growth areas. For the purposes of this section, a "county-wide planning policy" is a written policy statement or statements used solely for establishing a county-wide framework from which county and city comprehensive plans are developed and adopted pursuant to this chapter. This framework shall ensure that city and county comprehensive plans are consistent as required in RCW 36.70A.100. Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter the land-use powers of cities.

(2) The legislative authority of a county that plans under RCW 36.70A.040 shall adopt a county-wide planning policy in cooperation with the cities located in whole or in part within the county as follows:

(a) No later than sixty calendar days from July 16, 1991, the legislative authority of each county that as of June 1, 1991, was required or chose to plan under RCW 36.70A.040 shall convene a meeting with representatives of each city located within the county for the purpose of establishing a collaborative process that will provide a framework for the adoption of a county-wide planning policy. In other counties that are required or choose to plan under RCW 36.70A.040, this meeting shall be convened no later than sixty days after the date the county adopts its resolution of intention or was certified by the office of financial management.

(b) The process and framework for adoption of a county-wide planning policy specified in (a) of this subsection shall determine the manner in which the county and the cities agree to all procedures and provisions including but not limited to desired planning policies, deadlines, ratification of final agreements and demonstration thereof, and financing, if any, of all activities associated therewith.

(c) If a county fails for any reason to convene a meeting with representatives of cities as required in (a) of this subsection, the governor may immediately impose any appropriate sanction or sanctions on the county from those specified under RCW 36.70A.340.

(d) If there is no agreement by October 1, 1991, in a county that was required or chose to plan under RCW 36.70A.040 as of June 1, 1991, or if there is no agreement within one hundred twenty days of the date the county adopted its resolution of intention or was certified by the office of financial management in any other county that is required or chooses to plan under RCW 36.70A.040, the governor shall first inquire of the jurisdictions as to the reason or reasons for failure to reach an agreement. If the governor deems it appropriate, the governor may immediately request the assistance of the department of community, trade, and economic development to mediate any disputes that preclude agreement. If mediation is unsuccessful in resolving all disputes that will lead to agreement, the governor may impose appropriate sanctions from those specified under RCW 36.70A.340 on the county, city, or cities for failure to reach an agreement as provided in this section. The governor shall specify the reason or reasons for the imposition of any sanction.

(e) No later than July 1, 1992, the legislative authority of each county that was required or chose to plan under RCW 36.70A.040 as of June 1, 1991, or no later than fourteen months after the date the county adopted its resolution of intention or was certified by the office of financial management the county legislative authority of any other county that is required or chooses to plan under RCW 36.70A.040, shall adopt a county-wide planning policy according to the process provided under this section and that is consistent with the agreement pursuant to (b) of this subsection, and after holding a public hearing or hearings on the proposed county-wide planning policy.

(3) A county-wide planning policy shall at a minimum, address the following:

(a) Policies to implement RCW 36.70A.110;

(b) Policies for promotion of contiguous and orderly development and provision of urban services to such development;

(d) Policies for county-wide transportation facilities and strategies;

(e) Policies that consider the need for affordable housing, such as housing for all economic segments of the population ((~~and parameters for its distribution~~));

(f) Policies for joint county and city planning within urban growth areas;

(g) Policies for county-wide economic development and employment; and

(h) An analysis of the fiscal impact.

(4) Federal agencies and Indian tribes may participate in and cooperate with the county-wide planning policy adoption process. Adopted county-wide planning policies shall be adhered to by state agencies.

(5) Failure to adopt a county-wide planning policy that meets the requirements of this section may result in the imposition of a sanction or sanctions on a county or city within the county, as specified in RCW 36.70A.340. In imposing a sanction or sanctions, the governor shall specify the reasons for failure to adopt a county-wide planning policy in order that any imposed sanction or sanctions are fairly and equitably related to the failure to adopt a county-wide planning policy.

(6) Cities and the governor may appeal an adopted county-wide planning policy to the growth management hearings board within sixty days of the adoption of the county-wide planning policy.

(7) Multicounty planning policies shall be adopted by two or more counties, each with a population of four hundred fifty thousand or more, with contiguous urban areas and may be adopted by other counties, according to the process established under this section or other processes agreed to among the counties and cities within the affected counties throughout the multicounty region.

Sec. 18. RCW 36.70A.370 and 1991 sp.s. c 32 s 18 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The state attorney general shall establish by October 1, 1991, an orderly, consistent process, including a checklist if appropriate, that better enables state agencies and local governments to evaluate proposed regulatory or administrative actions to assure that such actions do not result in an unconstitutional taking of private property. It is not the purpose of this section to ((~~expand or~~)) reduce the scope of private property protections provided in the state and federal Constitutions. The attorney general shall review and update the process at least on an annual basis to maintain consistency with changes in case law.

(2) Local governments that are required or choose to plan under RCW 36.70A.040 and state agencies shall utilize the process established by subsection (1) of this section to assure that proposed regulatory or administrative actions do not result in an unconstitutional taking of private property.

(3) The attorney general, in consultation with the Washington state bar association, shall develop a continuing education course to implement this section.

(((4) The process used by government agencies shall be protected by attorney client privilege. Nothing in this section grants a private party the right to seek judicial relief requiring compliance with the provisions of this section.))

NEW SECTION. Sec. 19. It is necessary that the procedures established in this chapter ensure that all applicable permit processes, approvals, and reviews are processed concurrently, rather than consecutively. The lead environmental agency or counties and cities shall establish by rule or ordinance an expedited appeals process by which an applicant may appeal any failure by any permit agency, county, or city to take timely action on the issuance or denial of a permit or land-use approval or subdivision of land in accordance with the time limits established under this chapter. If the decision maker finds that the time limits under appeal have been violated without good cause, the decision maker shall establish a date certain by which the permit agency shall act on the permit application and provide for the full reimbursement of any filing or permit processing fees paid by the applicant to the local government or agency for the permit application under appeal.

Sec. 20. RCW 76.09.050 and 1994 c 264 s 49 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The board shall establish by rule which forest practices shall be included within each of the following classes:

Class I: Minimal or specific forest practices that have no direct potential for damaging a public resource that may be conducted without submitting an application or a notification;

Class II: Forest practices which have a less than ordinary potential for damaging a public resource that may be conducted without submitting an application and may begin five calendar days, or such lesser time as the department may determine, after written notification by the operator, in the manner, content, and form as prescribed by the department, is received by the department. However, the work may not begin until all forest practice fees required under RCW 76.09.065 have been received by the department. Class II shall not include forest practices:

(a) On lands platted after January 1, 1960, or being converted to another use;

(b) Which require approvals under the provisions of the hydraulics act, RCW 75.20.100;

(d) Excluded from Class II by the board;

Class III: Forest practices other than those contained in Class I, II, or IV. A Class III application must be approved or disapproved by the department within thirty calendar days from the date the department receives the application. However, the applicant may not begin work on that forest practice until all forest practice fees required under RCW 76.09.065 have been received by the department;

Class IV: Forest practices other than those contained in Class I or II: (a) On lands platted after January 1, 1960, (b) on lands being converted to another use, (c) on lands which, pursuant to RCW 76.09.070 as now or hereafter amended, are not to be reforested because of the likelihood of future conversion to urban development, and/or (d) which have a potential for a substantial impact on the environment and therefore require an evaluation by the department as to whether or not a detailed statement must be prepared pursuant to the state environmental policy act, chapter 43.21C RCW. Such evaluation shall be made within ten days from the date the department receives the application: PROVIDED, That nothing herein shall be construed to prevent any local or regional governmental entity from determining that a detailed statement must be prepared for an action pursuant to a Class IV forest practice taken by that governmental entity concerning the land on which forest practices will be conducted. A Class IV application must be approved or disapproved by the department within thirty calendar days from the date the department receives the application, unless the department determines that a detailed statement must be made, in which case the application must be approved or disapproved by the department within sixty calendar days from the date the department receives the application, unless the commissioner of public lands, through the promulgation of a formal order, determines that the process cannot be completed within such period. However, the applicant may not begin work on that forest practice until all forest practice fees required under RCW 76.09.065 have been received by the department.

Forest practices under Classes I, II, and III are exempt from the requirements for preparation of a detailed statement under the state environmental policy act.

(2) No Class II, Class III, or Class IV forest practice shall be commenced or continued after January 1, 1975, unless the department has received a notification with regard to a Class II forest practice or approved an application with regard to a Class III or Class IV forest practice containing all information required by RCW 76.09.060 as now or hereafter amended: PROVIDED, That any person commencing a forest practice during 1974 may continue such forest practice until April 1, 1975, if such person has submitted an application to the department prior to January 1, 1975: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That in the event forest practices regulations necessary for the scheduled implementation of this chapter and RCW 90.48.420 have not been adopted in time to meet such schedules, the department shall have the authority to regulate forest practices and approve applications on such terms and conditions consistent with this chapter and RCW 90.48.420 and the purposes and policies of RCW 76.09.010 until applicable forest practices regulations are in effect.

(3) If a notification or application is delivered in person to the department by the operator or the operator's agent, the department shall immediately provide a dated receipt thereof. In all other cases, the department shall immediately mail a dated receipt to the operator.

(4) Forest practices shall be conducted in accordance with the forest practices regulations, orders and directives as authorized by this chapter or the forest practices regulations, and the terms and conditions of any approved applications.

(5) The department of natural resources shall notify the applicant in writing of either its approval of the application or its disapproval of the application and the specific manner in which the application fails to comply with the provisions of this section or with the forest practices regulations. Except as provided otherwise in this section, if the department fails to either approve or disapprove an application or any portion thereof within the applicable time limit, the application shall be deemed approved and the operation may be commenced: PROVIDED, That this provision shall not apply to applications which are neither approved nor disapproved pursuant to the provisions of subsection (7) of this section: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That if seasonal field conditions prevent the department from being able to properly evaluate the application, the department may issue an approval conditional upon further review within sixty days: PROVIDED, FURTHER, That the department shall have until April 1, 1975, to approve or disapprove an application involving forest practices allowed to continue to April 1, 1975, under the provisions of subsection (2) of this section. Upon receipt of any notification or any satisfactorily completed application the department shall in any event no later than two business days after such receipt transmit a copy to the departments of ecology and fish and wildlife, and to the county, city, or town in whose jurisdiction the forest practice is to be commenced. Any comments by such agencies shall be directed to the department of natural resources.

(6) If the county, city, or town believes that an application is inconsistent with this chapter, the forest practices regulations, or any local authority consistent with RCW 76.09.240 as now or hereafter amended, it may so notify the department and the applicant, specifying its objections.

(7) The department shall not approve portions of applications to which a county, city, or town objects if:

(a) The department receives written notice from the county, city, or town of such objections within fourteen business days from the time of transmittal of the application to the county, city, or town, or one day before the department acts on the application, whichever is later; and

(b) The objections relate to lands either:

(i) Platted after January 1, 1960; or

(ii) Being converted to another use.

The department shall either disapprove those portions of such application or appeal the county, city, or town objections to the appeals board. If the objections related to subparagraphs (b) (i) and (ii) of this subsection are based on local authority consistent with RCW 76.09.240 as now or hereafter amended, the department shall disapprove the application until such time as the county, city, or town consents to its approval or such disapproval is reversed on appeal. The applicant shall be a party to all department appeals of county, city, or town objections. Unless the county, city, or town either consents or has waived its rights under this subsection, the department shall not approve portions of an application affecting such lands until the minimum time for county, city, or town objections has expired.

(8) In addition to any rights under the above paragraph, the county, city, or town may appeal any department approval of an application with respect to any lands within its jurisdiction. The appeals board may suspend the department's approval in whole or in part pending such appeal where there exists potential for immediate and material damage to a public resource.

(9) Appeals under this section shall be made to the appeals board in the manner and time provided in RCW 76.09.220(8). In such appeals there shall be no presumption of correctness of either the county, city, or town or the department position.

(10) The department shall, within four business days notify the county, city, or town of all notifications, approvals, and disapprovals of an application affecting lands within the county, city, or town, except to the extent the county, city, or town has waived its right to such notice.

(11) A county, city, or town may waive in whole or in part its rights under this section, and may withdraw or modify any such waiver, at any time by written notice to the department.

(12) This section does not apply to land development proceeding under Title 36 RCW.

(13) For the purposes of this section, "land development" means the division or platting of land in preparation for development or the actual building, constructing, or erecting of residences or commercial buildings.

Sec. 21. RCW 36.70B.010 and 1995 c 347 s 401 are each amended to read as follows:

The legislature finds and declares the following:

(1) As the number of environmental laws and development regulations has increased for land uses and development, so has the number of required local land use permits, each with its own separate approval process.

(2) The increasing number of local and state land use permits and separate environmental review processes required by agencies has generated continuing potential for conflict, overlap, and duplication between the various permit and review processes.

(3) This regulatory burden has significantly added to the cost and time needed to obtain local and state land use permits and has made it difficult for the public to know how and when to provide timely comments on land use proposals that require multiple permits and have separate environmental review processes.

(4) The legislature therefore finds minimizing lengthy, costly, and burdensome appeals and permit processes to be of great importance as well as to be promoting clear vesting of property and development rights.

Sec. 22. RCW 36.70B.020 and 1995 c 347 s 402 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Closed record appeal" means an administrative appeal on the record to a local government body or officer, including the legislative body, following an open record hearing on a project permit application when the appeal is on the record with no or limited new evidence or information allowed to be submitted and only appeal argument allowed.

(2) "Local government" means a county, city, or town.

(3) "Open record hearing" means a hearing, conducted by a single hearing body or officer authorized by the local government to conduct such hearings, that creates the local government's record through testimony and submission of evidence and information, under procedures prescribed by the local government by ordinance or resolution. ((An open record hearing may be held prior to a local government's decision on a project permit to be known as an "open record predecision hearing." An open record hearing may be held on an appeal, to be known as an "open record appeal hearing," if no open record predecision hearing has been held on the project permit.))

(4) "Project permit" ((~~or "project permit application"~~)) means any land use or environmental permit or license required from a local government for a project action, including ((~~but not limited to~~)) building permits, subdivisions, binding site plans, planned unit developments, conditional uses, shoreline substantial development permits, site plan review((~~, permits or approvals required by critical area ordinances~~)), and site-specific rezones ((~~authorized by~~)) consistent with a comprehensive plan ((~~or subarea plan, but excluding the adoption or amendment of a comprehensive plan, subarea plan, or development regulations except as otherwise specifically included in this subsection~~)).

(5) "Public meeting" means an informal meeting, hearing, workshop, or other public gathering of people to obtain comments from the public or other agencies on a proposed project permit prior to the local government’s decision. A public meeting ((~~may include, but~~)) is ((~~not~~)) limited to((~~, a design review or architectural control board meeting, a special review district or community council meeting, or~~)) a scoping meeting on a draft environmental impact statement. A public meeting does not include an open record hearing. The proceedings at a public meeting may be recorded and a report ((~~or recommendation~~)) may be included in the local government’s project permit application file.

(6) "Separate approval process" means a distinct permit or review process required by state, local, or other agencies, including but not limited to land use permits and environmental reviews.

Sec. 23. RCW 36.70B.040 and 1995 c 347 s 405 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A proposed project's consistency with a local government's development regulations adopted under chapter 36.70A RCW, or, in the absence of applicable development regulations, the appropriate elements of the comprehensive plan or subarea plan adopted under chapter 36.70A RCW shall be determined by consideration of:

(a) The type of land use;

(b) The level of development, such as units per acre or other measures of density; and

~~(d) The character of the development, such as development standards.~~

~~(2) In determining consistency, the determinations made pursuant to RCW 36.70B.030(2) shall be controlling~~)).

((~~(3)~~)) (2) For purposes of this section, the term "consistency" shall include all terms used in ((~~this chapter and~~)) chapter 36.70A RCW to refer to performance in accordance with ((~~this chapter and~~)) chapter 36.70A RCW((~~, including but not limited to compliance, conformity, and consistency~~)).

((~~(4)~~)) (3) Nothing in this section requires additional documentation((,)) by the applicant or dictates an agency's procedures for considering consistency((~~, or limits a unit of government from asking more specific or related questions with respect to any of the four main categories listed in subsection (1)(a) through (d) of this section~~)).

Sec. 24. RCW 36.70B.060 and 1995 c 347 s 407 are each amended to read as follows:

Not later than March 31, 1996, each local government planning under RCW 36.70A.040 shall establish by ordinance or resolution an integrated and consolidated project permit process that ((~~may~~)) shall be included in its development regulations. ((~~In addition to the elements required by RCW 36.70B.050,~~)) The process shall include the following elements:

(1) A determination of completeness to the applicant as required by ((~~RCW 36.70B.070~~)) each separate approval process;

(2) A notice of application to the public and agencies with jurisdiction ((~~as required by RCW 36.70B.110~~));

(3) Except as provided in RCW 36.70B.140, an optional consolidated project permit review process as provided in RCW 36.70B.120. The review process shall provide for no more than one consolidated open record hearing and one closed record appeal((~~. If an open record predecision hearing is provided prior to the decision on a project permit, the process shall not allow a subsequent open record appeal hearing~~));

(4) Provision allowing for any required public meeting or required open record hearing to be combined with any ((~~public meeting or~~)) open record hearing that may be held on the project by another local((,)) or state((~~, regional, federal, or other~~)) agency, in accordance with provisions of RCW 36.70B.090 and 36.70B.110;

(5) ((A single report stating all the decisions made as of the date of the report on all project permits included in the consolidated permit process that do not require an open record predecision hearing and any recommendations on project permits that do not require an open record predecision hearing. The report shall state any mitigation required or proposed under the development regulations or the agency's authority under RCW 43.21C.060. The report may be the local permit. If a threshold determination other than a determination of significance has not been issued previously by the local government, the report shall include or append this determination;

(6) Except for the appeal of a determination of significance as provided in RCW 43.21C.075, if a local government elects to provide an appeal of its threshold determinations or project permit decisions, the local government shall provide for no more than one consolidated open record hearing on such appeal. The local government need not provide for any further appeal and may provide an appeal for some but not all project permit decisions. If an appeal is provided after the open record hearing, it shall be a closed record appeal before a single decision-making body or officer;

~~(7)~~)) A notice of decision as required by RCW 36.70B.130 and issued within the time period provided in RCW 36.70B.080 and 36.70B.090;

((~~(8)~~)) (6) Completion of project review by the local government, including environmental review and public review and any appeals to the local government, within any applicable time periods under RCW 36.70B.090; and

((~~(9)~~)) (7) Any other provisions not inconsistent with the requirements of this chapter or chapter 43.21C RCW.

Sec. 25. RCW 36.70B.070 and 1995 c 347 s 408 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Within twenty-eight days after receiving a project permit application, a local government planning pursuant to RCW 36.70A.040 shall mail or provide in person a written determination to the applicant, stating either:

(a) That the application is complete; or

(b) That the application is incomplete and what is necessary to make the application complete.

To the extent known by the local government, the local government shall identify other agencies of local, state, or federal governments that may have jurisdiction over some aspect of the application.

(2) A project permit application is complete ((~~for purposes of this section~~)) when it meets the procedural submission requirements of the local government and is sufficient for continued processing even though additional information may be ((~~required~~)) requested or project modifications may be undertaken subsequently. ((The determination of completeness shall not preclude the local government from requesting additional information or studies either at the time of the notice of completeness or subsequently if new information is required or substantial changes in the proposed action occur.

~~(3) The determination of completeness may include the following as optional information:~~

~~(a) A preliminary determination of those development regulations that will be used for project mitigation;~~

~~(b) A preliminary determination of consistency, as provided under RCW 36.70B.040; or~~

~~(c) Other information the local government chooses to include.~~

~~(4)~~)) Additional requested information shall be of a clarifying nature and based on requirements of the underlying development regulations.

(3)(a) An application shall be deemed complete ((~~under this section~~)) if the local government does not provide a written determination to the applicant that the application is incomplete as provided in subsection (1)(b) of this section.

(b) Within fourteen days after an applicant has submitted to a local government additional information identified by the local government as being necessary for a complete application, the local government shall notify the applicant whether the application is complete or what ((~~additional~~)) information ((~~is necessary~~)) was not included under the original written determination provided in subsection (1)(b) of this section.

Sec. 26. RCW 36.70B.090 and 1995 c 347 s 413 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) ((~~Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section,~~)) A local government planning under RCW 36.70A.040 shall issue its notice of final decision on a project permit application within one hundred twenty days after the local government notifies the applicant that the application is complete, as provided in RCW 36.70B.070. In determining the number of days that have elapsed after the local government has notified the applicant that the application is complete, the following periods shall be excluded:

(a)(i) Any period during which the applicant has been requested by the local government to correct plans((~~, perform required studies,~~)) or provide additional ((~~required~~)) information required in the underlying development regulations. The period shall be calculated from the date the local government notifies the applicant of the need for additional required information until the earlier of the date the local government determines whether the additional required information satisfies the original request for information or fourteen days after the date the information has been provided to the local government.

(ii) If the local government determines that the information submitted by the applicant under (a)(i) of this subsection ((~~is insufficient~~)) does not meet requirements of the underlying development regulations, it shall notify the applicant of the deficiencies and the procedures under (a)(i) of this subsection shall apply ((~~as if a new request for studies had been made~~)); and

(b) Any period during which an environmental impact statement is being prepared following a determination of significance pursuant to chapter 43.21C RCW, if the local government by ordinance or resolution has established time periods for completion of environmental impact statements, or if the local government and the applicant in writing agree to a time period for completion of an environmental impact statement((;

(c) Any period for administrative appeals of project permits, if an open record appeal hearing or a closed record appeal, or both, are allowed. The local government by ordinance or resolution shall establish a time period to consider and decide such appeals. The time period shall not exceed: (i) Ninety days for an open record appeal hearing; and (ii) sixty days for a closed record appeal. The parties to an appeal may agree to extend these time periods; and

~~(d) Any extension of time mutually agreed upon by the applicant and the local government.~~

~~(2) The time limits established by subsection (1) of this section do not apply if a project permit application:~~

~~(a) Requires an amendment to the comprehensive plan or a development regulation;~~

(b) Requires approval of a new fully contained community as provided in RCW 36.70A.350, a master planned resort as provided in RCW 36.70A.360, or the siting of an essential public facility as provided in RCW 36.70A.200; or

~~(c) Is substantially revised by the applicant, in which case the time period shall start from the date at which the revised project application is determined to be complete under RCW 36.70B.070.~~

(3) If the local government is unable to issue its final decision within the time limits provided for in this section, it shall provide written notice of this fact to the project applicant. The notice shall include a statement of reasons why the time limits have not been met and an estimated date for issuance of the notice of final decision)).

((~~(4)~~)) (2) This section shall apply to project permit applications filed on or after April 1, 1996.

Sec. 27. 1995 c 347 s 433 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows:

Section((~~s 413 and~~)) 421 of this act shall expire June 30, 1998. The provisions of section((~~s 413 and~~)) 421 of this act shall apply to project permit applications determined to be complete pursuant to RCW 36.70B.070 on or before June 30, 1998.

Sec. 28. RCW 36.70B.110 and 1995 c 347 s 415 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Not later than April 1, 1996, a local government planning under RCW 36.70A.040 shall provide a notice of application to the public and the departments and agencies with jurisdiction as provided in this section. If a local government has made a determination of significance under chapter 43.21C RCW concurrently with the notice of application, the notice of application shall be combined with the determination of significance and scoping notice. Nothing in this section prevents a determination of significance and scoping notice from being issued prior to the notice of application.

(2) The notice of application shall be provided within fourteen days after the determination of completeness as provided in RCW 36.70B.070 and include the following in whatever sequence or format the local government deems appropriate:

(a) The date of application, the date of the notice of completion for the application, and the date of the notice of application;

(b) A description of the proposed project action and a list of the project permits included in the application ((~~and, if applicable, a list of any studies requested under RCW 36.70B.070 or 36.70B.090~~));

(c) The identification of other permits not included in the application ((~~to the extent known by the local government~~));

(d) The identification of existing environmental documents that evaluate the proposed project, and, if not otherwise stated on the document providing the notice of application, such as a city land use bulletin, the location where the application and any studies can be reviewed;

(e) A statement of the public comment period, which shall be not less than fourteen nor more than thirty days following the date of notice of application, and statements of the right of any person to comment on the application, receive notice of and participate in any hearings, request a copy of the decision once made, and any appeal rights. A local government may accept public comments at any time ((~~prior to the closing of the record of an open record predecision hearing, if any, or, if no open record predecision hearing is provided,~~)) prior to the decision on the project permit;

(f) The date, time, place, and type of hearing, if applicable and scheduled at the date of notice of the application;

(g) A statement ((~~of the preliminary determination, if one has been made at the time of notice,~~)) of those development regulations that will be used for project mitigation ((~~and of consistency as provided in RCW 36.70B.040; and~~

~~(h) Any other information determined appropriate by the local government.~~

~~(3) If an open record predecision hearing is required for the requested project permits, the notice of application shall be provided at least fifteen days prior to the open record hearing.~~

~~(4)~~)) required in chapter 43.21C RCW.

(3) A local government shall use reasonable methods to give the notice of application to the public and agencies with jurisdiction and ((~~may~~)) shall use its existing notice procedures. ((A local government may use different types of notice for different categories of project permits or types of project actions. If a local government by resolution or ordinance does not specify its method of public notice, the local government shall use the methods provided for in (a) and (b) of this subsection. Examples of reasonable methods to inform the public are:

~~(a) Posting the property for site-specific proposals;~~

(b) Publishing notice, including at least the project location, description, type of permit(s) required, comment period dates, and location where the complete application may be reviewed, in the newspaper of general circulation in the general area where the proposal is located or in a local land use newsletter published by the local government;

~~(c) Notifying public or private groups with known interest in a certain proposal or in the type of proposal being considered;~~

~~(d) Notifying the news media;~~

~~(e) Placing notices in appropriate regional or neighborhood newspapers or trade journals;~~

~~(f) Publishing notice in agency newsletters or sending notice to agency mailing lists, either general lists or lists for specific proposals or subject areas; and~~

~~(g) Mailing to neighboring property owners.~~

~~(5)~~)) (4) A notice of application shall not be required for project permits that are categorically exempt under chapter 43.21C RCW((~~, unless a public comment period or an open record predecision hearing is required~~)).

((~~(6)~~)) (5) A local government shall integrate the permit procedures in this section with environmental review under chapter 43.21C RCW as follows:

(a) Except for a determination of significance, the local government may not issue its threshold determination, or issue a decision or a recommendation on a project permit until the expiration of the public comment period on the notice of application.

(b) ((If an open record predecision hearing is required and the local government's threshold determination requires public notice under chapter 43.21C RCW, the local government shall issue its threshold determination at least fifteen days prior to the open record predecision hearing.

~~(c)~~)) Comments shall be as specific as possible.

((~~(7)~~)) (6) A local government may combine any hearing on a project permit with any hearing that may be held by another local((,)) or state((~~, regional, federal, or other~~)) agency provided that the hearing is held within the geographic boundary of the local government. Hearings shall be combined if requested by an applicant, as long as the joint hearing can be held within the time periods specified in RCW 36.70B.090 or the applicant agrees to the schedule in the event that additional time is needed in order to combine the hearings. All agencies of the state of Washington, including municipal corporations and counties participating in a combined hearing, are hereby authorized to issue joint hearing notices and develop a joint format, select a mutually acceptable hearing body or officer, and take such other actions as may be necessary to hold joint hearings consistent with each of their respective statutory obligations.

((~~(8)~~)) (7) All state and local agencies shall cooperate to the fullest extent possible with the local government in holding a joint hearing if requested to do so, as long as:

(a) The agency is not expressly prohibited by statute from doing so;

(b) Sufficient notice of the hearing is given to meet each of the agencies' adopted notice requirements as set forth in statute, ordinance, or rule; and

(c) The agency has received the necessary information about the proposed project from the applicant to hold its hearing at the same time as the local government hearing.

((~~(9)~~)) (8) A local government is not required to provide for administrative appeals. If provided, an administrative appeal of the project decision, combined with any environmental determinations, shall be filed within fourteen days after the notice of the decision or after other notice that the decision has been made and is appealable. The local government shall extend the appeal period for an additional seven days, if state or local rules adopted pursuant to chapter 43.21C RCW allow public comment on a determination of nonsignificance issued as part of the appealable project permit decision.

((~~(10)~~)) (9) The applicant for a project permit is deemed to be a participant in any comment period, open record hearing, or closed record appeal.

((~~(11)~~)) (10) Each local government planning under RCW 36.70A.040 shall adopt procedures for administrative interpretation of its development regulations.

Sec. 29. RCW 36.70B.120 and 1995 c 347 s 416 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Each local government planning under RCW 36.70A.040 shall establish a permit review process that provides for the integrated and consolidated review and decision on two or more project permits relating to a proposed project action, including a single application review and approval process covering all project permits requested by an applicant for all or part of a project action and a designated permit coordinator. If an applicant elects the consolidated permit review process, the determination of completeness, notice of application, and notice of final decision must include all project permits being reviewed through the consolidated permit review process.

(2) Consolidated permit review may provide different procedures for different categories of project permits, but if a project action requires project permits from more than one category, the local government shall provide for consolidated permit review with a single open record hearing and no more than one closed record appeal as provided in RCW 36.70B.060. Each local government shall determine which project permits are subject to an open record hearing and a closed record appeal. Examples of categories of project permits include but are not limited to:

(a) Proposals that are categorically exempt from chapter 43.21C RCW, such as construction permits, that do not require environmental review or public notice;

(b) Permits that require environmental review((~~, but no open record predecision hearing~~)); and

(c) Permits that require a threshold determination ((~~and an open record predecision hearing~~)) and may provide for a closed record appeal to a hearing body or officer or to the local government legislative body.

(3) A local government may provide by ordinance or resolution for the same or a different decision maker or hearing body or officer for different categories of project permits. In the case of consolidated project permit review, the local government shall specify which decision makers shall make the decision or recommendation, conduct the hearing, or decide the appeal to ensure that consolidated permit review occurs as provided in this section. ((~~The consolidated permit review may combine an open record predecision hearing on one or more permits with an open record appeal hearing on other permits. In such cases,~~)) The local government by ordinance or resolution shall specify which project permits, if any, shall be subject to a closed record appeal.

Sec. 30. RCW 36.70B.130 and 1996 c 254 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

A local government planning under RCW 36.70A.040 shall provide a notice of decision that also includes a statement of any threshold determination made under chapter 43.21C RCW and the procedures for administrative appeal, if any. The notice of decision may be a copy of the report or decision on the project permit application. The notice shall be provided to the applicant and to any person who, prior to the rendering of the decision, requested notice of the decision or submitted substantive comments on the application. The local government shall provide for notice of its decision as provided in RCW 36.70B.110((~~(4)~~))(3), which shall also state that affected property owners may request a change in valuation for property tax purposes notwithstanding any program of revaluation. The local government shall provide notice of decision to the county assessor's office of the county or counties in which the property is situated.

Sec. 31. RCW 36.70B.140 and 1995 c 347 s 418 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A local government by ordinance or resolution ((~~may~~)) shall exclude the following project permits from the provisions of RCW 36.70B.060 through 36.70B.090 and 36.70B.110 through 36.70B.130: Landmark designations, street vacations, or other approvals relating to the use of public areas or facilities, or other project permits, whether administrative or quasi-judicial, that the local government by ordinance or resolution has determined present special circumstances that warrant a review process different from that provided in RCW 36.70B.060 through 36.70B.090 and 36.70B.110 through 36.70B.130.

(2) A local government by ordinance or resolution also ((~~may~~)) shall exclude the following project permits from the provisions of RCW 36.70B.060 and 36.70B.110 through 36.70B.130: Lot line or boundary adjustments and building and other construction permits, or similar administrative approvals, categorically exempt from environmental review under chapter 43.21C RCW, or for which environmental review has been completed in connection with other project permits.

Sec. 32. RCW 36.70B.160 and 1995 c 347 s 420 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Each local government ((~~is encouraged to~~)) shall adopt further project review provisions to ((~~provide prompt, coordinated review and~~)) ensure accountability to applicants and the public((~~, including~~)) and provide expedited, coordinated review ((~~for project permit applications~~)) for projects that are consistent with adopted development regulations ((~~and within the capacity of system-wide infrastructure improvements~~)).

(2) Nothing in this chapter is intended or shall be construed to prevent a local government from ((~~requiring~~)) allowing a preapplication conference or a public ((~~meeting~~)) hearing by rule, ordinance, or resolution.

(3) Each local government shall adopt procedures to monitor and enforce permit decisions and conditions.

(4) Nothing in this chapter modifies any independent statutory authority for a government agency to appeal a project permit issued by a local government.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 33. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

(1) RCW 36.70B.030 and 1995 c 347 s 404;

(2) RCW 36.70B.080 and 1995 c 347 s 409 & 1994 c 257 s 3; and

(3) 1995 c 347 s 411 (uncodified).

NEW SECTION. Sec. 34. Sections 4 through 9, 14, and 19 of this act are each added to chapter 36.70A RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 35. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 36. 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 takes effect immediately.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 37. This act is remedial in nature and applies retroactively to July 1, 1990, and thereafter.