Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS

Local Government Committee

HB 2078

Brief Description: Authorizing deferrals of required comprehensive plan and development regulation updates.

Sponsors: Representative Simpson.

Brief Summary of Bill
  • Creates exceptions to the GMA planning update schedule so as to allow certain planning and non-planning counties and cities to forgo one required update every 14 years.

Hearing Date: 2/28/05

Staff: Thamas Osborn (786-7129).

Background:

Growth Management Act Planning Requirements.
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. Twenty-nine 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).

Comprehensive Land Use Plans.
Among numerous planning requirements, GMA jurisdictions must adopt internally consistent comprehensive land use plans (comprehensive plans), which are generalized, coordinated land use policy statements of the governing body. Each comprehensive plan must include planning provisions for each of the following elements: a) land use; b) housing; c) capital facilities plan; d) utilities; e) rural areas;
f) transportation; g) economic development; and h) parks and recreation.

Continuing Review and Evaluation of Plans and Development Regulations.
Comprehensive 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 comply with the requirements of the GMA and must be consistent with and implement comprehensive plans.

Mandatory Reviews and Updates of Plans and Regulations.
The Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED) must establish a schedule for counties and cities to review and, if needed, revise their comprehensive plans and development regulations so as to ensure their compliance with the Growth Management Act. Jurisdictions that are not fully planning under the GMA are also required to satisfy planning update requirements pertaining to critical areas and natural resource lands according to this same schedule.

Schedule for Compliance with GMA Update Requirements.
The schedule must provide for reviews and evaluations by the following dates, and every seven years thereafter:

Summary of Bill:

Introduction.
Certain counties and cities that meet specified criteria are allowed to forgo one update of their comprehensive plans and development regulations every fourteen years. The counties and cities eligible for this update deferral are divided into three categories, each of which has its own set of criteria. The first of these categories includes only certain GMA planning counties, the second includes only certain GMA planning cities, and the third category includes certain non-planning cities and counties. In all eligible counties and cities, the decision of whether or not to opt for the update deferral rests with the governing body.

Update Deferrals for Certain Counties with Populations of Less than Twenty Thousand.
The governing body of a GMA planning county may opt to forgo one update every fourteen years, provided all of the following criteria are met:

Update Deferrals for Certain Cities with Populations of Less than One Thousand Five Hundred. The governing body of a GMA planning city may opt to forgo one update every fourteen years, provided all of the following criteria are met:

Update deferrals offered to certain non-planning counties and cities.
The governing body of a non- planning county or city may opt to forgo one update every 14 years, provided all of the following criteria are met:

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 27, 2005.

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