Chapter 18.180
ESSENTIAL PUBLIC FACILITIES

Sections:

18.180.010    Purpose.

18.180.020    Scope.

18.180.030    Procedure.

18.180.040    Decision criteria – Determination of applicability.

18.180.050    Decision criteria – Review process.

18.180.010 Purpose.

The purpose of this chapter is to provide a process to site necessary public uses that may otherwise be difficult to site. This process involves the community and identifies and minimizes adverse impacts. Essential public facilities are defined in Chapter 18.20 RMC, Definitions. Examples include schools, water transmission lines, sewer collection lines, fire stations, hospitals, jails, prisons, airports, solid waste transfer stations, highways, and stormwater treatment plants. Secure community transition facilities as defined in Chapter 18.20 RMC are also included. [Ord. 1192 § 1 (Exh. A), 2022; Ord. 1060 §§ 5, 6, 2010; Ord. 1059 § 2 (Exh. A (12.180.010)), 2010.]

18.180.020 Scope.

This section establishes the criteria that the city will use in making a decision upon an application for an essential public facility. The city council shall develop a list of essential public facilities. These facilities meet the definition of essential public facilities or are based on a list maintained by the state of Washington Office of Financial Management.

A. A use or facility may be added to the list of essential public facilities based on one of the following criteria:

1. The use meets the definition of an essential public facility; or

2. The use is identified on the state list of essential public facilities maintained by the state of Washington Office of Financial Management.

B. This regulation shall serve to establish an alternative process for permitting those uses which meet the applicability criteria of RMC 18.180.040. The planning official shall determine whether a proposed facility shall be reviewed according to the essential public facilities review process instead of the review process indicated on the appropriate use chart. [Ord. 1060 §§ 5, 6, 2010; Ord. 1059 § 2 (Exh. A (12.180.020)), 2010.]

18.180.030 Procedure.

Applications that seek approval for an essential public facility as defined by Chapter 18.20 RMC shall follow the procedures established in this title for a Class 3 review. [Ord. 1060 §§ 5, 6, 2010; Ord. 1059 § 2 (Exh. A (12.180.030)), 2010.]

18.180.040 Decision criteria – Determination of applicability.

A. Essential public facilities may be reviewed through the essential public facility review process. An applicant may make a written request or the planning official may require a proposal to be reviewed through Roslyn’s essential public facility review process. An applicant may use this process if the facility meets the definition of an essential public facility. If the facility is on the list of qualifying facilities, it automatically meets the definition.

B. The planning official, or the current position having the duties of this office, shall make a determination that a facility be reviewed through Roslyn’s essential public facilities review:

1. The facility is on the city’s list of essential public facilities or may be added to the list according to RMC 18.180.020;

2. The facility is a type difficult to site because of one of the following:

a. The facility needs a type of site of which there are few sites;

b. The facility can locate only near another public facility;

c. The facility has or is generally perceived by the public to have significant adverse impacts that make it difficult to site; or

d. The facility is of a type that has been difficult to site in the past;

3. It is likely this facility will be difficult to site; or

4. There is need for the facility and Roslyn is in the facility service area. [Ord. 1060 §§ 5, 6, 2010; Ord. 1059 § 2 (Exh. A (12.180.040)), 2010.]

18.180.050 Decision criteria – Review process.

A. An applicant may have one or more alternative sites considered at the same time during this process.

B. The planning official has the authority to require the consideration of sites outside the city of Roslyn. Alternative sites shall cover the service area of the proposed essential facility. This criterion is not applicable to secure community transition facilities.

C. An amplified public involvement process shall be required. The purpose of the public involvement process is to involve the persons within the zone of likely and foreseeable impacts if the involvement process has the potential to lead to a more appropriate design/location. The public involvement process could also lead to development of incentives or address modifications to the facility which would make siting of that facility more acceptable.

1. The applicant shall propose an acceptable public involvement process to be reviewed and approved by the planning official.

2. Public involvement activities shall be conducted by and paid for by the applicant.

3. The public involvement process shall be initiated by the applicant as early as feasibly possible.

D. The planning official may require a multijurisdictional review process if the facility serves a regional, countywide, statewide, or national need. If this process is required, the applicant shall design an acceptable process to be reviewed and approved by the planning official. Applicants shall be required to pay for this process. This requirement is not applicable to secure community transition facilities.

E. An analysis of the facility’s impact on city finances shall be undertaken. Mitigation of adverse financial impacts shall be required.

F. The following criteria shall be used to make a determination on the application:

1. Whether there is a public need for the facility;

2. The impact of the facility on the surrounding uses and environment, the city and the region;

3. Whether the design of the facility or the operation of the facility can be conditioned, or the impacts otherwise mitigated, to make the facility compatible with the historic character of the community and the environment;

4. Whether a package of incentives can be developed that would make siting the facility within the community more acceptable;

5. Whether the factors that make the facility difficult to site can be modified to increase the range of available sites or to minimize impacts on affected areas and the environment;

6. Whether the proposed essential public facility is consistent with the Roslyn comprehensive plan;

7. If a variance is requested, the proposal shall also comply with the variance criteria; and

8. Essential public facilities shall comply with any applicable state siting and permitting requirements. [Ord. 1060 §§ 5, 6, 2010; Ord. 1059 § 2 (Exh. A (12.180.050)), 2010.]