Chapter 18.250
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENTS
Sections:
18.250.020 Initiation of text and map amendments.
18.250.030 Criteria for amendment procedure.
18.250.040 Filing of text and map amendments.
18.250.050 Consideration of comprehensive plan amendments.
18.250.060 Review of text and map amendments.
18.250.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide the procedural steps needed to govern any amendments to the comprehensive plan text and/or maps. [Ord. 1192 § 1 (Exh. A), 2022; Ord. 1060 §§ 5, 6, 2010; Ord. 1059 § 2 (Exh. A (12.250.010)), 2010.]
18.250.020 Initiation of text and map amendments.
A. The city’s comprehensive plan shall be subject to continuing evaluation and review by the city. Any amendment or revision to the comprehensive plan shall conform to Chapter 36.70A RCW.
B. Comprehensive plan amendments may be initiated by citizens, by the planning and historic preservation commission, city staff, city council, or any other interested persons including applicants, and staff of other agencies. The proposed amendments or revisions to the comprehensive plan shall be docketed and considered by the city no more frequently than once every year except that amendments may be considered more frequently under the following circumstances:
1. The initial adoption of a subarea plan; or
2. The amendment of the capital facilities element of a comprehensive plan that occurs concurrently with the adoption or amendment of a city budget.
C. All amendment proposals shall be considered by the city concurrently so the cumulative effect of the various proposals can be ascertained. However, the city may adopt amendments or revisions to its comprehensive plan that conform with Chapter 36.70A RCW whenever an emergency exists or to resolve an appeal of a comprehensive plan filed with the growth management hearings board or with a court.
D. The city shall periodically review the densities permitted within its boundaries, and the extent to which urban growth has occurred within the city according to the timetable established by the Growth Management Act. The city shall revise its projected population figures a minimum of every 10 years to accommodate the urban growth projected to occur in the city for the succeeding 20-year period. [Ord. 1060 §§ 5, 6, 2010; Ord. 1059 § 2 (Exh. A (12.250.020)), 2010.]
18.250.030 Criteria for amendment procedure.
The criteria staff uses to make recommendations to the city council on whether or not to consider an amendment to the comprehensive plan shall include the following:
A. Conditions in the vicinity of the proposal have markedly changed since the subject property was designated and, under those changed conditions, a plan amendment is within the public interest;
B. The proposal is limited in scope and can fit within the planning department’s work program for the current year;
C. The proposal is correcting an inconsistency within the plan or is a clarification of the plan;
D. The public interest is served by dealing with the proposal at the present time rather than later;
E. The proposal bears a substantial relation to the promotion and preservation of public health, safety and welfare; and
F. The proposal will result in long-term benefits to the community as a whole and is in the best interest of the community. [Ord. 1060 §§ 5, 6, 2010; Ord. 1059 § 2 (Exh. A (12.250.030)), 2010.]
18.250.040 Filing of text and map amendments.
Written requests to amend the comprehensive plan, together with all relevant supportive or explanatory material as determined to be applicable by staff in the application packet, shall be submitted to the planning department. The city shall establish a start and ending date for the call for acceptance of written requests, and such shall be advertised in accordance with the city’s noticing requirements. All plan amendment requests shall be docketed for possible consideration for inclusion in the comprehensive plan. The docketed list of proposed amendments shall be presented to the planning and historic preservation commission within 90 days of the ending date. The planning and historic preservation commission shall make a recommendation to the city council on whether or not to move forward on consideration of docketed amendments within 30 days. [Ord. 1060 §§ 5, 6, 2010; Ord. 1059 § 2 (Exh. A (12.250.040)), 2010.]
18.250.050 Consideration of comprehensive plan amendments.
A. The city council, after a recommendation from staff and the planning and historic preservation commission, can recommend that an amendment be processed in the current amendment cycle or that the amendment remain on the docket list for future consideration, or that the amendment be denied further consideration.
B. The city council’s decision as to the disposition of the amendment shall be final and is not appealable. [Ord. 1060 §§ 5, 6, 2010; Ord. 1059 § 2 (Exh. A (12.250.050)), 2010.]
18.250.060 Review of text and map amendments.
In proposing any changes to its comprehensive plan, the city shall notify the appropriate state agency of its intent to adopt such amendments at least 60 days prior to final adoption. The city shall transmit a complete and accurate copy of its comprehensive plan to the appropriate state agency in accordance with state law. [Ord. 1060 §§ 5, 6, 2010; Ord. 1059 § 2 (Exh. A (12.250.060)), 2010.]