Chapter 19.01
TYPES OF PROJECT PERMIT APPLICATIONS

Sections:

19.01.001    Procedures for processing project permits.

19.01.002    Determination of proper procedure type.

19.01.003    Project permit application framework.

19.01.004    Joint public hearings.

19.01.005    Legislative decisions.

19.01.006    Legislative enactments not restricted.

19.01.007    Exemptions from project permit application processing.

19.01.001 Procedures for processing project permits.

For the purpose of project permit processing, all project permit applications shall be classified as one of the following: Type I, Type II, Type III or Type IV. Legislative decisions are Type V actions, and are addressed in CHMC 19.01.005. Exclusions from the requirements of project permit application processing are contained in CHMC 19.01.007. [RCW 36.70B.120.] (Ord. 738 § 1, 1996)

19.01.002 Determination of proper procedure type.

A. Determination by Administrator. The administrator shall determine the proper procedure for all development applications. If there is a question as to the appropriate type of procedure, the administrator shall resolve it in favor of the higher procedure type number.

B. Optional Consolidated Permit Processing. An application that involves two or more procedures may be processed collectively under the highest numbered procedure required for any part of the application or processed individually under each of the procedures identified by the code. The applicant may determine whether the application shall be processed collectively or individually. If the application is processed under the individual procedure option, the highest numbered type procedure must be processed prior to the subsequent lower numbered procedure. [RCW 36.70B.060(3), 36.70B.120.]

C. Decisionmaker(s). Applications processed in accordance with subsection (B) of this section which have the same highest numbered procedure but are assigned different hearing bodies shall be heard collectively by the highest decisionmaker(s). The city council is the highest, followed by the hearing examiner, and then the administrator. Joint public hearings with other agencies shall be processed according to CHMC 19.01.004. [RCW 36.70B.060(3), 36.70B.120.] (Ord. 959 § 5, 2018; Ord. 738 § 1, 1996)

19.01.003 Project permit application framework.

Action Type

PROCEDURE PROJECT PERMIT APPLICATIONS (TYPE I – IV) LEGISLATIVE
	TYPE I	TYPE II	TYPE III	TYPE IVA	TYPE IVB	TYPE V
Recommendation made by:	N/A	N/A	N/A	Hearing examiner	N/A	Planning commission
Final decision made by:	Administrator	Administrator/ hearing examiner	Hearing examiner	City council	City council	City council
Notice of application:	No, unless SEPA applies	No, unless SEPA applies	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Open record public hearing:	No	Only if appealed, open record hearing before hearing examiner	Yes, before hearing examiner to render final decision	Yes, before hearing examiner	Yes, before council to render final decision	Yes, before planning commission to make recommendation to council
Closed record appeal/final decision:	No	No	Only if appealed, then before hearing examiner	City council to make final decision	No	Yes, or council could hold its own hearing
Judicial appeal:	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

 

Decisions 

TYPE I	TYPE II	TYPE III	TYPE IVA	TYPE IVB	TYPE V
Building, grading, mechanical permits (non-SEPA) CHMC 15.04.080	Short plat Chapter 16.12 CHMC	Variances and special exceptions Chapter 17.72 CHMC	Preliminary plat Chapter 16.16 CHMC	Final plat Chapter 16.20 CHMC	Comp. plan and amendments CHMC 19.01.005
Sign permits Chapter 17.56 CHMC	Boundary line adjustment Chapter 16.10 CHMC	Interpretations CHMC 17.72.060	Plat amendments Chapter 16.36 CHMC	Site-specific rezone (hearing examiner) Chapter 17.76 CHMC	Development regulations and amendments CHMC 19.01.005
Swimming pool permits Chapter 17.48 CHMC	Recreational facilities permits Chapter 17.40 CHMC	Variations and exceptions (hearing examiner) Chapter 16.32 CHMC
Public place use permit Chapter 12.14 CHMC	Building, grading, mechanical permits (SEPA) CHMC 15.04.080	Variances and exceptions CHMC 15.10.070	Conditional use permits Chapter 17.10 CHMC

(Ord. 959 § 2, 2018; Ord. 941 § 3, 2016; Ord. 905 § 3, 2010; Ord. 853 § 4, 2003; Ord. 806 § 1, 1999; Ord. 771 § 1, 1997; Ord. 766 § 1, 1997; Ord. 741 § 1, 1996; Ord. 738 § 1, 1996)

19.01.004 Joint public hearings.

A. Administrator’s Decision to Hold Joint Hearing. The administrator may combine any public hearing on a project permit application with any hearing that may be held by another local, state, regional, federal, or other agency on the proposed action, as long as: (1) the hearing is held within the city limits; and (2) the requirements of subsection (C) of this section are met. [RCW 36.70B.110(7).]

B. Applicant’s Request for a Joint Hearing. The applicant may request that the public hearing on a permit application be combined as long as the joint hearing can be held within the time periods set forth in this title. In the alternative, the applicant may agree to a particular schedule if that additional time is needed in order to complete the hearings. [RCW 36.70B.110(7).]

C. Prerequisites to Joint Public Hearing. A joint public hearing may be held with another local, state, regional, federal or other agency and the city, as long as:

1. The other agency is not expressly prohibited by statute from doing so [RCW 36.70B.110(8)];

2. Sufficient notice of the hearing is given to meet each of the agencies’ adopted notice requirements as set forth in statute, ordinance, or rule;

3. The agency has received the necessary information about the proposed project from the applicant in enough time to hold its hearing at the same time as the local government hearing; and

4. The hearing is held within the geographic boundary of the local government. (Ord. 738 § 1, 1996)

19.01.005 Legislative decisions.

A. Decisions. The following decisions are legislative, and are not subject to the procedures in this title, unless otherwise specified:

1. Adoption of development regulations and amendments;

2. Area-wide rezones initiated by the city to implement new city policies;

3. Adoption of the comprehensive plan and plan amendments;

4. Annexations; and

5. Development agreements, including the development standards and conditions for development stated therein.

B. Planning Commission. The planning commission shall hold a public hearing and make recommendations to the city council on the decisions listed in subsection (A) of this section. The public hearing shall be held in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 19.05 CHMC.

C. City Council. The city council may consider the planning commission’s recommendation in a public hearing or public meeting, as applicable.

D. Public Notice. Notice of the public hearing or public meeting shall be provided to the public as set forth in CHMC 19.03.003(B)(4).

E. Implementation. The city council’s decision shall become effective by passage of an ordinance. (Ord. 958 § 3, 2017; Ord. 738 § 1, 1996)

19.01.006 Legislative enactments not restricted.

Nothing in this chapter or the permit processing procedures shall limit the authority of the city council to make changes to the city’s comprehensive plan, as part of an annual revision process, or to make changes to the city’s development regulations. [RCW 36.70B.020(4).] (Ord. 738 § 1, 1996)

19.01.007 Exemptions from project permit application processing.

A. Whenever a permit or approval has been designated as a Type I, II, III or IV permit, the procedures in this title shall be followed in project permit processing. The following permits or approvals are, however, specifically excluded from the procedures set forth in this title:

1. Landmark designations;

2. Street vacations;

3. Street use permits;

4. Impact fee decisions;

5. Street opening permits as provided in Chapter 12.08 CHMC;

6. Public place use permits as provided in Chapters 12.14, 17.77, and 17.78 CHMC.

B. Pursuant to RCW 36.70B.140(2), building permits, boundary line adjustments, other construction permits, or similar administrative approvals which are categorically exempt from environmental review under SEPA (Chapter 43.21C RCW) and CHMC Title 18, or permits/approvals for which environmental review has been completed in connection with other project permits, are excluded from the following procedures:

1. Determination of completeness (CHMC 19.02.003(A));

2. Notice of application (CHMC 19.03.001);

3. Except as provided in RCW 36.70B.140, optional consolidated project permit review processing (CHMC 19.01.002(B));

4. Joint public hearings (CHMC 19.01.004);

5. Single report stating all the decisions and recommendations made as of the date of the report that do not require an open record hearing (CHMC 19.04.002(C));

6. Notice of decision (CHMC 19.05.008);

7. Completion of project review within any applicable time periods (including the 120-day permit processing time) (CHMC 19.05.008, 19.05.009). [RCW 36.70B.140.] (Ord. 969 § 4, 2020; Ord. 771 § 2, 1997; Ord. 766 § 2, 1997; Ord. 738 § 1, 1996)