Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS

Local Government Committee

HB 1925


This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Removing a termination date affecting industrial land banks.

Sponsors: Representatives Curtis, Fromhold, Orcutt, Moeller, Wallace, Dunn and Hinkle.

Brief Summary of Bill
  • Removes the December 31, 2007 deadline for eligible counties to engage in the urban industrial land bank planning process.

Hearing Date: 2/13/07

Staff: Jessica Nowakowski (786-7291).

Background:

Major Industrial Development Pilot Project
In 1996 the Legislature amended the Growth Management Act (GMA) to authorize a pilot project under which areas for major industrial development could be established, and expeditiously sited, outside urban growth areas (UGAs). Among other provisions, the pilot project legislation: (a) allowed only certain counties to participate in the project, such participation being contingent, in part, on meeting detailed criteria relating to population, geographic location, and unemployment statistics; (b) established criteria for siting these developments within designated banks of land; and (c) provided for amending comprehensive plans adopted under the GMA to implement these provisions. The provisions of the original pilot project have been amended several times to modify the applicability criteria and termination dates.

Master Planned Locations Establishment Criteria
Eligible counties may establish up to two master planned locations for major industrial activity within an urban industrial land bank (land bank) located outside UGAs. Among other criteria for establishing major industrial developments within designated land banks, eligible counties must provide for new infrastructure, determine the feasibility of alternate sites, and satisfy specific development regulation requirements. Additionally, when selecting locations for inclusion within a land bank, counties must give priority to locations adjacent to, or in close proximity to, a UGA.

County Eligibility Criteria for the Creation of Master Planned Industrial Development
The GMA allows only certain counties to be eligible for participation in the urban industrial land bank designation process. The eligible counties are categorized into two groupings that are differentiated according to the expiration date of their authority to engage in the land bank development process. The expiration of such authority for one group of counties is December 31, 2007. The expiration of such authority for the other group of counties was December 31, 2002.

To be included in the group of counties whose authority expires on December 31, 2007, a county must meet one of several sets of criteria that include detailed requirements related to population, geographic location, and unemployment statistics. These eligibility criteria allow the inclusion of counties that meet one of the following sets of conditions:

Summary of Bill:

The December 31, 2007 termination date for the authority of eligible counties to include or exclude master planned locations from industrial land banks is removed.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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