Chapter 18B.01
PURPOSE AND AUTHORITY

Sections:

18B.01.010    Purpose and authority.

18B.01.020    Applicability.

18B.01.030    Legislative decisions.

18B.01.040    Legislative enactments not restricted.

18B.01.050    Conflict of provision.

18B.01.010 Purpose and authority.

A. It is the purpose of this title to effectively and efficiently administer applications for land use development activities (entitled “project permit applications” by this title) by creating a permit classification system with consistent procedures for similar application types, and by combining the environmental review process (SEPA), both procedural and substantive, with the procedures for review of project applications. The procedures described within this title are intended to standardize the project permit review process and administration and are not intended to nor shall they alter the actual development standards called for within a specific title.

B. When a project permit application is filed, the project review process shall include land use, environmental, public, and governmental review so that documents prepared under different requirements can be reviewed together by the public and other agencies, in one project review process.

C. This integrated review process features the following elements:

1. A determination of application completeness issued to the applicant within twenty-eight days of application submittal (Chapter 18B.04);

2. A combined notice of application to the public and agencies with jurisdiction (Chapter 18B.05);

3. A determination of the consistency of a proposed project with applicable development regulations and comprehensive plan (Chapter 18B.06);

4. An optional master application process for development proposals involving more than one application procedure (Section 18B.03.060);

5. Provisions for use of existing comprehensive plan and development regulations in the environmental review of proposed projects subject to SEPA (Chapter 18B.06);

6. Provisions for joint public hearings or meetings held with other local, state, regional or federal agencies with jurisdiction over a proposed project (Section 18B.08.070);

7. A single report stating all the decisions made as of the date of the report on all project permits, including any environmental determinations, on a proposed permit project (Chapter 18B.07);

8. Except for the appeal of a determination of significance under SEPA, no more than one open record hearing on a project permit (Section 18B.03.050); and

9. A notice of final decision issued within one hundred twenty days of the determination of application completeness (Chapter 18B.07). (Ord. 3700 § 1 (Att. A), 2009)

18B.01.020 Applicability.

The provisions of this title shall apply to all applications for land use or environmental permits subject to review under the following titles of the city of Kelso Municipal Code:

A. Title 16—Subdivisions.

B. Title 17—Zoning.

C. Title 18—Environmental. (Ord. 3700 § 1 (Att. A), 2009)

18B.01.030 Legislative decisions.

The following actions are legislative, and subject to the procedures in Chapter 18B.10, unless otherwise specified:

A. Zoning code text and zoning district amendments;

B. Adoption and amendment of development regulations as defined by Chapter 35A.63 RCW;

C. Area-wide rezones to implement new comprehensive plan policies; and

D. Adoption and amendment of the city comprehensive plan, subarea plans, other general purpose or specific city plans and any plan amendments. (Ord. 3700 § 1 (Att. A), 2009)

18B.01.040 Legislative enactments not restricted.

Nothing in this title shall limit the authority of the city council to amend the city’s comprehensive plan or development regulations. (Ord. 3700 § 1 (Att. A), 2009)

18B.01.050 Conflict of provision.

In the event of conflicts between any portion of this title and other rules, regulations, resolutions, ordinances or statutes lawfully adopted by the city of Kelso, the procedures contained in this title shall govern. (Ord. 3700 § 1 (Att. A), 2009)