HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1089

As Passed House:

March 6, 2017

Title: An act relating to amending the schedule for updates to the comprehensive plan of Kitsap county that are required under the growth management act to match the update schedules of other central Puget Sound counties.

Brief Description: Amending the schedule for updates to the comprehensive plan of Kitsap county.

Sponsors: Representatives Appleton and Fitzgibbon.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Environment: 1/26/17, 2/7/17 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 3/6/17, 55-43.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 5 members: Representatives Fitzgibbon, Chair; Peterson, Vice Chair; Fey, Kagi and McBride.

Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 4 members: Representatives Taylor, Ranking Minority Member; Maycumber, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Buys and Dye.

Staff: Robert Hatfield (786-7117).

Background:

Growth Management Act - Introduction.

The Growth Management Act (GMA) is the comprehensive land use planning framework for counties and cities in Washington. Originally enacted in 1990 and 1991, the GMA establishes land use designation and environmental protection requirements for all Washington counties and cities. The GMA also establishes a significantly wider array of planning duties for 29 counties, and the cities within those counties, that are obligated to satisfy all planning requirements of the GMA.

Growth Management Act - Comprehensive Plans.

The GMA directs jurisdictions that fully plan under the GMA (planning jurisdictions) to adopt internally consistent comprehensive land use plans that are generalized, coordinated land use policy statements of the governing body. Comprehensive plans are implemented through locally adopted development regulations, both of which are subject to review and revision requirements prescribed in the GMA.

Growth Management Act - Comprehensive Plan Updates.

Counties and cities are required to review and, if needed, revise their comprehensive plans and development regulations every eight years.  Counties, and the cities within them, are grouped into four different year classes for purposes of when the obligation to review and revise their comprehensive plans commences.  King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties are required to review and revise their comprehensive plans no later than June 30, 2015, and every eight years thereafter.  Ten other counties - Clallam, Clark, Island, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason, San Juan, Skagit, Thurston, and Whatcom - are required to review and revise their comprehensive plans no later than June 30, 2016, and every eight years thereafter.  The remaining counties are divided into the 2017 and 2018 year-classes for comprehensive plan review and revision.

Summary of Bill:

Kitsap County must review and revise its comprehensive plan no later than June 30, 2015, rather than June 30, 2016, and every eight years thereafter.  

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) There are four counties that participate in multicounty planning under the Growth Management Act: Kitsap, King, Snohomish, and Pierce.  Kitsap County is the only one of those counties that updates its comprehensive plan on a 2016 cycle, which makes it difficult for Kitsap County to coordinate with the other counties that participate in the Puget Sound Regional Council.  Having predictability for members of the Puget Sound Regional Council is valuable.  Aligning Kitsap County with the other counties that participate in the Puget Sound Regional Council will promote better coordination among all four of the counties.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Fitzgibbon; and Tom McBride, Kitsap County.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.