Brief Description: Requiring county and city coordination of comprehensive plan reviews.

Sponsors: Representatives O'Brien, Upthegrove and McDermott.

Hearing Date: 2/26/03

Staff: Ethan Moreno (786-7386).

Background:

Growth Management Act – Comprehensive Plans

Enacted in 1990 and 1991, the Growth Management Act (GMA) establishes a comprehensive land use planning framework for county and city governments in Washington. Counties and cities meeting specific population and growth criteria are required to comply with the major requirements of the GMA. Counties not meeting these criteria may choose to plan under the GMA. Currently, 29 of 39 counties, and the cities within those 29 counties, are required to or have chosen to comply with the major requirements of the GMA (GMA jurisdictions).

GMA jurisdictions must adopt comprehensive land use plans, which are generalized, coordinated land use policy statements of the governing body. Among other required elements, comprehensive plans must include specific provisions for capital facilities and transportation planning. The requirements for the capital facilities element include, but are not limited to: an inventory of existing publicly-owned facilities; a forecast of future facility needs; and a six-year plan to finance such facilities within funding capacities. The transportation element mandates numerous use, inventory, service, forecasting, and finance-related sub-elements for transportation planning.

County-wide Planning Policies

Prior to the adoption of comprehensive plans, counties planning under the major GMA requirements must first adopt county-wide planning policies. The county-wide planning policy is a written policy statement (or statements) used solely for establishing a county-wide policy framework from which county and city comprehensive plans are developed and adopted.

Comprehensive Plan Reviews

Comprehensive land use plans and development regulations are subject to continuing review and evaluation by the adopting county or city. Any amendments or revisions of development regulations must conform to the requirements of the GMA and must be consistent with and implement comprehensive plans. Schedule and criteria information for counties and cities reviewing and/or revising comprehensive plans and development regulations are specified in RCW 36.70A.130.

Multi-Jurisdictional Coordination

Several provisions in the GMA require multi-jurisdictional coordination efforts. The comprehensive plans of GMA jurisdictions must be coordinated with, and consistent with, the comprehensive plan of other counties or cities with which the county or city has, in part, common borders or related regional issues. Additionally, present statute specifies city/county cooperation criteria for adopting county-wide planning policies.

Summary of Bill:

The statute requiring comprehensive plan reviews is amended to specifically require reviews, evaluations, amendments, or revisions to the capital facilities plan or transportation elements of a county comprehensive plan to be coordinated and consistent with the corresponding comprehensive plan elements of the cities located within the county. The statute is amended to also specifically require reviews, evaluations, amendments, or revisions to county development regulations related to capital facilities and transportation planning to be coordinated and consistent with the applicable development regulations of the cities located within the county.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 21, 2003.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.