Chapter 24.15
SAMMAMISH COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Sections:
24.15.010 Comprehensive plan adopted.
24.15.020 Plans adopted by reference.
24.15.030 Maps adopted by reference.
24.15.040 Procedures to amend comprehensive plan.
24.15.050 Procedures for area-wide rezones, rezones associated with comprehensive plan amendments, and changes to development regulations.
24.15.060 Joint planning agreements.
24.15.070 Repealed.
24.15.080 Interlocal agreements for regional transportation facilities.
24.15.010 Comprehensive plan adopted.
(1) The City of Sammamish comprehensive plan document dated September 2003, or as subsequently amended by action of the City council, is hereby adopted in accordance with the provisions of the Washington State Growth Management Act and the King County County-wide Planning Policies as the official comprehensive plan of the City. This comprehensive plan shall be the principal planning document to guide the achievement of the Community’s Vision Statement for its future as well as the orderly growth and development of the City. The plan shall be used to guide land use decisions, the allocation of resources, the preparation of sub-area plans, the evaluation of potential annexation areas, the execution of interlocal agreements, the provision of services and facilities, and the preparation, revision, and implementation of City codes.
(2) An official copy of the comprehensive plan, all approved amendments, and all related plans and maps shall be maintained by the office of the City clerk and shall be made available for public review and purchase in accordance with such administrative procedures as may be implemented by the City manager or his designee.
(3) The office of the City clerk shall, in consultation with the City attorney, shall establish for purposes of administering the comprehensive plan, an official effective date for the comprehensive plan, subsequent amendments, and implementing regulations. (Ord. O2003-132 § 15)
24.15.020 Plans adopted by reference.
The following planning documents are hereby adopted by reference as a part of or in support of the Sammamish comprehensive plan:
(1) Sammamish Plateau water and sewer district sewer plan;
(2) Northeast Sammamish sewer and water district sewer plan;
(3) Sammamish Plateau water and sewer district water plan;
(4) Northeast Sammamish sewer and water district water plan;
(5) Issaquah School District capital facilities plan;
(6) Lake Washington School District capital facilities plan;
(7) Snoqualmie Valley School District capital facilities plan. (Ord. O2010-291 § 1; Ord. O2003-132 § 15)
24.15.030 Maps adopted by reference.
The following maps are adopted by reference:
(1) City of Sammamish comprehensive plan future land use map;
(2) City of Sammamish zoning map. (Ord. O2003-132 § 15)
24.15.040 Procedures to amend comprehensive plan.
(1) The City shall consider amendments to the comprehensive plan on an annual basis, in accordance with administrative procedures and timelines established by the City manager or his designee and approved by the City council; provided, that:
(a) The City may consider certain amendments on a more frequent basis in accordance with the provisions of the Washington State Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A.130) including:
(i) Initial adoption of a subarea plan;
(ii) The adoption or amendment of a shoreline master program under the procedures set forth in Chapter 90.58 RCW;
(iii) The amendment of the capital facilities element of the comprehensive plan that occurs concurrently with the adoption or amendment of the city budget; and
(iv) Amendments or revisions to the City’s comprehensive plan when an emergency exists or to resolve, if appropriate, an appeal of the comprehensive plan filed with the Growth Management Hearings Board or with the court.
(b) Applications for the first annual review shall be accepted no sooner than one year from the effective date of the comprehensive plan.
(c) The City shall, every seventh year from the effective date of the comprehensive plan, initiate an update of the comprehensive plan, including such revisions as may be required to the City’s growth and housing affordability targets.
(2) Applications to amend the comprehensive plan or a rezone request associated with a comprehensive plan amendment shall be reviewed by the City planning commission based upon the following information:
(a) A detailed statement of what is proposed to be changed and why;
(b) A statement of anticipated impacts of the change, including geographic area affected and issues presented;
(c) A demonstration of why existing comprehensive plan guidance should not continue in effect or why existing criteria no longer apply;
(d) A statement of how the amendment complies with the Growth Management Act’s goals and specific requirements;
(e) A statement of how the amendment complies with the Sammamish Vision Statement;
(f) A statement of how functional plans and capital improvement programs support the change; and
(g) Public review of the recommended change, necessary implementation (including area zoning if appropriate) and alternatives.
(3) Applications to amend the comprehensive plan shall be reviewed in accordance with the procedures and forms set forth by the City manager and his/her designee and approved by the City council. (Ord. O2003-132 § 15)
24.15.050 Procedures for area-wide rezones, rezones associated with comprehensive plan amendments, and changes to development regulations.
(1) The City may initiate area-wide rezones, consider rezones associated with a comprehensive plan amendment or changes to development regulations in accordance with such administrative procedures and timelines as may be established by the City manager or his designee and approved by the City council.
(2) Rezone requests authorized by subsection (1) of this section shall be reviewed by the planning commission for consistency with the comprehensive plan and the following criteria:
(a) Consistency with the City’s comprehensive plan goals, policies, and land use map;
(b) Demonstration of a clear and compelling need and public benefit;
(c) Documentation that there will be no probable significant adverse environmental effects that cannot be reasonably mitigated;
(d) Documentation of how the rezone addresses community needs such as affordable housing, senior housing, or special needs housing;
(e) Protection of environmentally sensitive areas.
(3) During consideration of area-wide rezones or rezones associated with a comprehensive plan amendment, the City may allow different zoning designations on a single legal parcel, recognizing with a lower density zone lands environmentally unsuitable for development and with a greater density zone lands suitable for development; provided, that:
(a) The application of the greater density shall be consistent with the predominant density of the neighboring properties to the area or site considered for reclassification. For example, R-1 may be applied to environmentally sensitive portions of a site, and R-4 to the developable portion of a site, R-4 matching the character and density of neighboring properties.
(b) Zone boundaries should consider environmental, legal, and practical administrative issues associated with application of the split zone boundary.
(4) Decisions on area-wide rezones and rezones associated with a comprehensive plan amendment shall be made by the City council based on an evaluation of a staff report and a recommendation by the City planning commission. The public shall be notified of all such rezone requests and afforded meaningful opportunities for public review and comment.
(5) Area-wide rezones, applications for rezones associated with a comprehensive plan amendment, or amendments to development regulations shall be reviewed in accordance with the procedures and forms set forth by the City manager and his/her designee and approved by the City council. (Ord. O2003-132 § 15)
24.15.060 Joint planning agreements.
(1) The City council shall have the authority to enter into joint planning agreements with adjacent communities and specific agencies to ensure clear communication between the affected jurisdictions and compatibility with the City of Sammamish comprehensive plan.
(2) Joint planning agreements should be drafted with the following communities/agencies:
(a) The City of Issaquah;
(b) The City of Redmond;
(c) King County;
(d) Washington State Department of Transportation; and
(e) Special districts including, but not limited to, the Sammamish Plateau water and sewer district and the Northeast Sammamish sewer and water district. (Ord. O2003-132 § 15)
24.15.070 Potential annexation areas.
Repealed by Ord. O2006-200. (Ord. O2003-132 § 15)
24.15.080 Interlocal agreements for regional transportation facilities.
(1) The City shall develop interlocal agreements with neighboring jurisdictions and/or agencies (i.e.,WSDOT, King County, and the Cities of Redmond and Issaquah) to establish mutually acceptable LOS standards and mitigation strategies for traffic impacts on essential commuter facilities, as shown in the transportation element of the comprehensive plan.
(2) The interlocal agreements will serve to:
(a) Provide a coordinated approach to addressing sub-regional transportation issues;
(b) Minimize AM and PM peak-hour travel times along intercity commuter routes; and
(c) Establish an interlocal impact fee structure.
(3) Acceptable mitigation strategies may include:
(a) Contribution of impact fees to projects that address traffic impacts on the identified essential commuter facilities; and
(b) Provision of additional capacity on general purpose or HOV facilities to mitigate impacts on the identified commuter facilities.
(4) An interlocal agreement with WSDOT or a neighboring jurisdiction shall contain consider incorporating provisions which indicate that the City shall may deny development proposals that create a significant adverse transportation impact on the access routes outside the City limits as shown in the transportation element of the comprehensive plan unless adequate mitigation is in place within six years of project completion. (Ord. O2003-132 § 15)