SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5519

               As Passed Senate, March 15, 1999

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, McCaslin, Heavey and Winsley.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  2/11/99, 2/15/99 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/15/99, 33-13.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Patterson, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Hale, Haugen, Horn, Kline and McCaslin.

Staff:  Sharon Swanson (786-7445)

Background:  A local government shall issue its notice of final decision on a project permit application within 120 days after the local government notifies the applicant that the application is complete.  In determining the number of days that have elapsed after the local government has notified the applicant that the application is complete, several exclusions apply:

$any period during which the applicant has been requested to make changes or provide additional information;

$any period during which an environmental impact statement is being prepared;

$any period for administrative appeals of project permits, if an open record appeal hearing or a closed record appeal are allowed;

$any extension of time mutually agreed upon.

Summary of Bill:  With respect to any application that is subject to the authority of a community municipal corporation council, the time between the date of the final decision by the local government and the date of decision by the community municipal corporation council shall not exceed 60 days.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill would provide a very limited exception; only three jurisdictions would be affected.  It is simply not possible to make complex land use decisions from start to finish within 120 days in a manner that will ensure the community municipal corporations an opportunity to appropriately consider certain permits.

Testimony Against:  The 120 day time limit grants ample time to process permits.  The problem with giving additional time is that councils will now take time for granted and slow the entire process.  There are better ways to deal with this problem and there is no need for another exception to allow stopping the clock.

Testified:  Connie Marshall, Bob Mack, City of Bellevue (pro); Jodi Walker, BIAW (con).