Title: An act relating to review of amendments to comprehensive plans and development regulations.

Brief Description: Revising the process for review of amendments to comprehensive plans and development regulations.

Sponsors: Senators Haugen, Mulliken and Rasmussen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 2/28/05, 3/1/05 [DPS, DNP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6030 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Kastama, Chair; Berkey, Vice Chair; Fairley, Haugen, Kline, McCaslin, Mulliken and Pridemore.

Minority Report: Do not pass.Signed by Senators Roach, Ranking Minority Member; and Benton.

Staff: Genevieve Pisarski (786-7488)

Background: The state's Growth Management Act (GMA) provides for appeal to a Growth Management Hearings Board of comprehensive plans, development regulations, and permanent amendments for the purpose of determining their compliance with the goals and requirements of the GMA.

Summary of Substitute Bill: Petitions to a Growth Management Hearings Board about comprehensive plan or development regulation amendments that are adopted during a required periodic review must be limited to amendments adopted during that review and statutory requirements adopted since the preceding review.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: Statutory requirements adopted since a preceding review are added as a basis for petition.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: The GMA was never intended to allow for continual re-opening of entire comprehensive plans and all development regulations whenever there is an update. Local governments are supposed to decide the scope and contents of updates, based on what parts need updating and what new requirements may have been adopted by the state.

Testimony Against: Comprehensive plans and development regulations that have internal inconsistencies or fail to incorporate new laws should not be locked-in forever. Plans and regulations need to be periodically reconciled internally and, as well as updated, such as the Pierce County plan in respect to transportation requirements. Things change, such as the major industries in the area or population growth.

Who Testified: PRO: Senator Haugen, prime sponsor; Diane Oberquell, Thurston County Commissioner.

CON: Genesee Adkins, Futurewise.

Signed in, Unable to Testify & Submitted Written Testimony: PRO: Paul Parker, Washington Association of Counties.