SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5022

As Passed Senate, March 13, 2003

Title: An act relating to comprehensive plan amendment procedures.

Brief Description: Authorizing comprehensive plan amendments to be considered as often as once every six months.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Land Use & Planning (originally sponsored by Senators Parlette, Haugen, Zarelli, Hale, Stevens, Mulliken and T. Sheldon).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Land Use & Planning: 2/6/03, 2/14/03 [DPS, DNP].

Passed Senate: 3/13/03, 40-9.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAND USE & PLANNING

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5022 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Mulliken, Chair; Morton and T. Sheldon.

Minority Report: Do not pass.

      Signed by Senator Kline.

Staff: Genevieve Pisarski (786-7488)

Background: Current statute restricts counties and cities subject to the Growth Management Act (GMA) from considering amendments to their comprehensive plans more frequently than once per year, except for initial adoption of a plan, adoption or amendment of a shoreline master program element, or amendment of a capital facility element occurring concurrently with budget adoption.

Summary of Bill: The governing body of a GMA county or city may by ordinance or resolution establish a procedure for consideration of amendments no more frequently than twice per calendar year.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: This will provide a more timely response to citizens, and a quicker response for economic development proposals. It should be "twice per year" rather than restricted to "once per year" as existing or "once every six months" as in the original bill. It provides an option for counties and cities, not a requirement.

Testimony Against: Existing "once per year" allows comprehensive consideration rather than piecemeal. There is better public involvement if amendment occurs once per year. There is an advantage to private interests if more frequent amendment occurs.

Testified: Senator Parlette, sponsor; Larry Angell, Chelan County (pro); Ron Walter, Chelan County Commissioner (pro); Kevin Hughes, Snohomish County (pro); Genesee Adkins, 1000 Friends of Washington (con).