Chapter 16A.03
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sections:
16A.03.030 Administration and Review Authority
16A.03.040 Permit Assistance Staff
16A.03.010 Purpose
These procedures describe how the City of SeaTac will process applications for project and other construction and land use permits. This title applies to all Type I, II and III permits for development, as outlined on Appendix I. These procedures are intended to implement, and shall be applied in a manner consistent with, Chapter 36.70B RCW. It is the intent of these procedures to provide for the effective processing and review of project permits and to inform the public about how and when to provide timely comment during their consideration. (Ord. 18-1004 § 1; Ord. 03-1020 § 2)
16A.03.020 Definitions
A. “Applicant” means the property owner and/or the person or entity who submits a permit application.
B. “Days” means calendar days, unless otherwise specified.
C. “Development standards” means standards, rules and regulations set forth in the following titles of the SeaTac Municipal Code:
1. SMC Title 12, Public Utilities.
2. SMC Title 13, Buildings and Construction.
3. SMC Title 14, Subdivisions.
4. SMC Title 15, Zoning Code.
5. SMC Title 17, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED).
6. SMC Title 18, Environmental Code.
D. “Open record hearing” means a hearing, conducted by a single hearing body or officer authorized by the local government to conduct such hearings, that creates the local government’s record through testimony and submission of evidence and information under procedures prescribed by the local government by ordinance or resolution. An open record hearing may be held prior to a local government’s decision on a project permit to be known as an “open record predecision hearing.” An open record hearing may be held on an appeal, to be known as an “open record appeal hearing,” if no open record predecision hearing has been held on the project permit.
E. “Preapplication meetings” means meetings between City staff, affected agencies, and an applicant or their representatives prior to formal submission of a detailed application. They are intended to acquaint the applicant with an overview of the regulatory requirements, application process and procedural submission requirements.
F. “Procedural submission requirements” means requirements for the submittal of a permit application, as specified by this and other applicable ordinances regulating the application.
G. “Project permit or project permit application” means any land use or environmental permit required for a project action, such as building permits, subdivisions, binding site plans, planned unit developments, conditional uses, shoreline substantial development permits, site plan review, permits or approvals required by the City’s critical area ordinances, site-specific rezones authorized by a comprehensive plan or subarea plan or other Type I through III permits listed in Appendix II, excluding mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire code permits. (Adoption or amendment of a comprehensive plan, subarea plan or development regulation are also not considered project permits.)
H. “Public meeting” means an informal meeting, hearing, workshop, or other public gathering of people to obtain comments from the public or other agencies on a proposed project permit prior to the local government’s decision. A public meeting may include, but is not limited to, a design review or architectural control board meeting, a special review district or community council meeting, or a scoping meeting on a draft environmental impact statement. A public meeting does not include an open record hearing. The proceedings at a public meeting may be recorded and a report or recommendation may be included in the local government’s project permit application file.
I. Type of Permit. Permits are divided into category based on the required review process. See Appendix II for a list of permits by types.
1. Type I permits are permits and actions not required to provide notice to the public under State law, such as building permits where environmental review is not required or was done under another permit application (see Appendix I).
2. Type II permits are permits required under State law to provide a notice of application to surrounding properties.
3. Type III permits are permits that require a public hearing before the City’s Hearing Examiner. (Ord. 18-1004 § 1; Ord. 03-1020 § 2)
16A.03.030 Administration and Review Authority
Responsibility for the administration, application and interpretation of City development standards and these procedures rests with the applicable City department as outlined in the SeaTac Municipal Code and Appendix I, and as follows:
A. The Building Official or designee for those sections of the City of SeaTac Municipal Code or other development regulations under his/her responsibility such as, but not limited to, those pertaining to building, sign, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits.
B. The Engineer Review Manager or designee for those sections of the City of SeaTac Municipal Code or other development regulations under his/her responsibility such as, but not limited to, those pertaining to grading and drainage, erosion and sediment control, stormwater utility, right-of-way use and improvement permits, and King County Road Standards.
C. The Director of Community and Economic Development for those sections of the City of SeaTac Municipal Code and other development regulations under his/her responsibility, including Chapter 16A.23 SMC, Environmental Rules/Procedures, SMC Title 14, Subdivisions, SMC Title 15, Zoning Code, Chapter 18.05 SMC, Shoreline Master Program, and approvals and permits authorized by these sections such as short plats, lot line adjustments, shoreline exemption permits and permits or approvals required by the critical areas ordinance.
D. The City Manager shall determine the review authority where it is not apparent or when organizational changes modify the above responsibilities.
The City Manager or designee shall also review and act on the following:
1. Variances to the provisions of SMC Titles 14 and 15 where the change does not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the distance, area, or other measure of the requirement of City Code, pursuant to the criteria in SMC 15.115.010(C);
2. Minor conditional use permits (CUP) which conform to the criteria in SMC 15.115.020(B).
E. The City Council shall review and act on development agreements and rezones initiated by the City, and may review and act on essential public facilities as determined by the City Council.
F. The Planning Commission shall review and make recommendations on amendments to the Comprehensive Plan, amendments to this title, amendments to SMC Title 14, Subdivisions, amendments to SMC Title 15, Zoning Code, and amendments to Chapter 18.05 SMC, Shoreline Master Program.
G. The Hearing Examiner shall review and act on Type III permits, and appeals of Type I and Type II permits.
H. Requests for code interpretations shall be made in writing to the responsible City official. Interpretations of regulations will be issued by the City within thirty (30) days of a written request for such an interpretation. (Ord. 19-1015 § 7; Ord. 18-1004 § 1; Ord. 16-1007 § 30; Ord. 11-1002 § 3; Ord. 04-1011 § 1; Ord. 04-1008 § 9; Ord. 03-1020 § 2)
16A.03.040 Permit Assistance Staff
The City shall designate permit assistance staff pursuant to RCW 36.70B.220, whose function it is to assist permit applicants. Permit assistance staff designated under this section shall:
A. Make available to permit applicants all current regulations and adopted policies of the City of SeaTac that apply to the subject application. The City shall provide counter copies thereof and, upon request, provide copies according to Chapter 42.17 RCW. The City shall also make available procedures, checklists and information to facilitate the permit process; and
B. Establish and make known to the public the means of obtaining the handouts and related information; and
C. Provide assistance regarding the application of the regulations adopted by the City of SeaTac in particular cases. (Ord. 18-1004 § 1; Ord. 03-1020 § 2)