HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 5489

BYSenators McCaslin, DeJarnatt and Thorsness

Clarifying the filing requirements of short subdivision surveys.

House Committe on Local Government

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (13)

      Signed by Representatives Haugen, Chair; Ferguson, Ranking Republican Member; Horn, Nealey, Nelson, Nutley, Phillips, Raiter, Rayburn, Todd, Wolfe, Wood and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Steve Lundin (786-7127)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT MARCH 30, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Counties, cities, and towns are required to establish a process for the administrative approval of short subdivisions of land where the smallest resulting lot is less than five acres.  A short subdivision is a division of land into four or fewer lots. However, cities and towns can increase the number of lots in a short subdivision up to a maximum of nine.  Essentially no standards exist in state law for the extent of the review of a short subdivision that a county, city, or town must provide. Local ordinances may require that a survey of a short plat be filed with the application for approval of the short subdivision.

Consideration of a proposed short subdivision is a one step administrative process with no public hearing, nor public notice. The county, city, or town approves a short plat for a short subdivision.

SUMMARY:

The ability of a county, city or town to require the filing of a survey with a short subdivision is limited to requiring surveys at the time the short plat of an approved short subdivision is filed with the county auditor.

A lot that is to be created by the prospective short subdivision of land may be sold contingent upon approval of the short subdivision.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Tom McCabe, Washington Association of Realtors.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    This is a housekeeping bill.  This is at the top of the realtors' priorities.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.