Chapter 17.20
SUBDIVISIONS
Sections:
17.20.010 Subdivision procedure.
17.20.015 Preapplication conference.
17.20.020 Submittal documents.
17.20.050 Dedications and/or easements – Required.
17.20.060 Preliminary plat approval.
17.20.070 Authorization for subdivider.
17.20.080 Expiration and requests for extension.
17.20.090 Expiration of phased development proposals – No development agreement.
17.20.100 Expiration of phased development proposals – With approved development agreement.
17.20.010 Subdivision procedure.
All applications for subdivision shall be considered by the city, consistent with the requirements of SMC Title 20.
A. Major subdivision shall include those applications for land division which request approval for five or more parcels or divisions.
B. Minor subdivision or short plats shall include those applications for land division which request approval for four or less parcels or divisions. (Ord. 2010-016 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 98-005 § 4)
17.20.015 Preapplication conference.
A preapplication conference may be required; refer to SMC 20.01.110. (Ord. 2021-026 § 2 (Exh. B); Ord. 98-005 § 4)
17.20.020 Submittal documents.
An application for major subdivision or minor subdivision shall include all materials specified in Table 17.12.020(A). (Ord. 98-005 § 4)
17.20.030 Review required.
Review of the proposed application shall include consideration of all public and agency comment or testimony received. The city engineer shall evaluate and determine the engineering accuracy of the proposed subdivision, including but not limited to, the proposed street system, the proposed sewage disposal system, the proposed storm drainage system and the proposed water supply system. The department of community development shall evaluate and determine the proposal’s conformance with the comprehensive plan and all zoning requirements. The public works department shall evaluate the application to determine the adequacy of system improvements and capacity. (Ord. 2011-017 § 1; Ord. 98-005 § 4)
17.20.040 Approval criteria.
The city will not approve applications for subdivisions unless it is demonstrated by the applicant that each of the following criteria has been met or will be met:
A. Each lot resulting from the subdivision must conform with the comprehensive plan and zoning regulations;
B. Each lot will adjoin a public street or a private street in the subdivision;
C. Curb, gutter, sidewalk, trail connections, transit stops, streets, storm drainage, sanitary sewer lines, water lines and other utilities as required must be installed at the expense of the applicant and meet city specifications and applicable ordinances and the city engineer must have certified or approved the proposed plans;
D. The applicant must provide an easement for utilities transmission services, if necessary;
E. Private property necessary for public use for streets will be dedicated by a deed of dedication acceptable to the city or by preparing a plat to be recorded;
F. A bond meeting city requirements (Chapter 3.78 SMC) is posted to ensure completion of those improvements required under these criteria but not yet installed or provided;
G. Adequate public facilities will be provided, as required by the adopted capital facilities plan. These facilities may include, but not necessarily be limited to, parks, playgrounds, schools, open spaces, transit stops, and trails and trail connections;
H. All requirements of the environmentally sensitive areas and wetlands sections of the SMC and the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) have been met;
I. No development may occur which causes a flooding hazard, and until any development occurring within an identified floodplain has been properly mitigated;
J. The public interest will be served by the proposal;
K. All the requirements of Chapter 58.17 RCW have been met;
L. The proposed project phasing schedule, if applicable, meets the requirements contained in SMC 17.20.090; and
M. Only irrigation districts organized under Chapter 87.03 RCW may require improvements and only in accordance with RCW 58.17.310. (Ord. 2021-021 § 1 (Exh. B); Ord. 2007-002 § 1; Ord. 2005-022 § 1; Ord. 2004-015 § 1; Ord. 98-005 § 4)
17.20.050 Dedications and/or easements – Required.
No plat shall be approved unless all areas to be used by the public which are required to be dedicated are conveyed to, and accepted by the city, and all easements which are required as conditions of approval are granted in a form acceptable to the city. (Ord. 98-005 § 4)
17.20.060 Preliminary plat approval.
Preliminary plat approval shall be granted by the city after adoption of findings of fact, conclusions and conditions, which clearly describe the proposed subdivision and the proposals consistent with all applicable review criteria. In addition all conditions which are required to be met prior to final plat approval shall be specifically described in the findings. (Ord. 2005-022 § 2; Ord. 2004-015 § 2; Ord. 98-005 § 4)
17.20.070 Authorization for subdivider.
Approval of the preliminary plat by the city, consistent with the provisions of SMC Title 20, shall constitute authorization for the subdivider to develop the subdivision’s facilities and improvements in strict accordance with final design and/or construction drawings which have been reviewed and approved by the public works director, with state laws, this title and all applicable conditions of the preliminary plat approval. (Ord. 2005-022 § 3; Ord. 2004-015 § 3; Ord. 98-005 § 4)
17.20.080 Expiration and requests for extension.
A. The preliminary plat approval shall expire after five years unless a proposed final plat, in proper form, and meeting all final plat requirements, is submitted to the city department of community development; provided, however, that an extension of time, not to exceed one year, may be granted by the city council upon the recommendation of the director of the department of community development. Only two such extensions shall be granted. However, any extension of time may require additional review and shall require application of all applicable land use regulations including zoning adopted subsequent to the vesting date of the application as additional conditions of approval. This section shall be interpreted to be consistent with RCW 58.17.140.
B. Effective June 10, 2010, through December 31, 2014, preliminary plat approval shall expire seven years after approval. This seven-year expiration of preliminary plats shall apply to unexpired preliminary plats in existence on June 10, 2010, and to valid complete preliminary plats applied for between June 10, 2010, and December 31, 2014, inclusive. No extensions shall be granted. Effective January 1, 2015, preliminary plat expiration and extensions shall be governed by subsection A of this section. (Ord. 2011-017 §§ 1, 2; Ord. 2010-015 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2010-001 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2005-022 § 4; Ord. 2004-015 § 4; Ord. 98-005 § 4)
17.20.090 Expiration of phased development proposals – No development agreement.
Preliminary plats that have been approved for phased development consistent with the requirements of Chapter 17.26 SMC shall submit a proposed final plat (or request for extension in appropriate form) for the development within five years of the date of preliminary plat approval, seven years if preliminary plat approval was in accordance with SMC 17.20.080(B). Subsequent phases shall be required to submit proposed final plats within five years of the date of preliminary approval, or seven years if SMC 17.20.080(B) applies, excepting that the city council may approve an alternative date of expiration for subsequent phases if an approved development agreement consistent with the requirements of SMC 17.26.070 and SMC Title 20 has been adopted. (Ord. 2010-015 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 2005-022 § 5; Ord. 2004-015 § 5; Ord. 98-005 § 4)
17.20.100 Expiration of phased development proposals – With approved development agreement.
Phased developments with approved development agreements entered into pursuant to SMC 17.26.070 shall be governed by SMC 17.26.070 and the development agreement. (Ord. 2010-015 § 1 (Exh. A))