SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 116

BYHouse Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Nutley, Allen, Haugen, May, Ferguson, Bristow, Rayburn and Brough)

Modifying procedures for administrative approval of plats.

House Committe on Local Government

Senate Committee on Governmental Operations

Senate Hearing Date(s):April 1, 1987; April 2, 1987

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Halsan, Chairman; Garrett, Vice Chairman; McCaslin, Zimmerman.

Senate Staff:Sam Thompson (786-7754); Eugene Green (786-7405)

                  April 3, 1987

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS, APRIL 2, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Every division of land for purposes of sale, lease, or transfer of ownership, where the smallest lot is less than five acres, must be reviewed and approved by the county, city or town within which the land is located.  A county, city, or town may increase the size of the smallest lot to be created by a division of land that is subject to its review and approval.

A county, city or town may adopt an ordinance subjecting proposed divisions of land to a binding site plan procedure in lieu of the subdivision or short subdivision procedure, if the division is for any or all of the following purposes: (1) sale or lease for industrial or commercial uses;  (2) lease for placing mobile homes or travel trailers; or (3) creation of condominiums.  Binding site plans must be approved by the county, city or town governing body.

Boundary line adjustments within a subdivision or short subdivision are exempt from the subdivision or short subdivision procedures.

SUMMARY:

The binding site plan procedure, an option for approving divisions of land under certain circumstances, is more fully described.

A county, city or town may provide for administrative approval of a general binding site plan.  The number of lots created under a binding site plan may not exceed the number of lots allowed by applicable zoning ordinances. After approval of the general binding site plan, the approval of improvements and finalization of specific individual lots shall be done by administrative approval.

A boundary line adjustment between platted or unplatted lots, or both, is exempt from the subdivision and short subdivision process.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENTS:

The two amendments are technical and simply clarify that a binding site plan may be administratively approved.

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Jim Williams, Washington State Association of Counties