Chapter 17.12
PRELIMINARY PROCEDURES
Sections:
17.12.010 Application and preliminary plat submission.
17.12.020 Time limitation for approval or disapproval of preliminary plats.
17.12.030 Preapplication meeting.
17.12.060 Preliminary plat distribution.
17.12.070 Hearing examiner hearing date.
17.12.010 Application and preliminary plat submission.
A. Any person intending to subdivide land in an unincorporated area of Skamania County shall obtain a subdivision application form and SEPA checklist from the county planning department. These completed forms, and the preliminary plat and any restrictive covenants proposed upon land within the subdivision shall then be submitted to the planning department, and a date of receipt shall be affixed onto these documents. When required, other related application forms including land division water, land division septic, critical areas, and clear and grade applications shall be submitted with the subdivision application form.
B. When the administrator determines that the items required by Section 17.24.050, General standards, have been met, the administrator shall circulate the preliminary plat, any restrictive covenants, and the SEPA checklist to the applicable agencies listed in Section 17.12.060. If the requirements in Section 17.24.050 have not been satisfactorily met, the administrator shall inform the subdivider of the inadequacies in writing and request the deficiencies be corrected prior to submitting the preliminary plat, restrictive covenants, and SEPA checklist to the agencies in Section 17.12.060.
C. Any person aggrieved by a final decision of the administrator not to accept a plat for review may appeal this decision to the hearing examiner. When such an appeal is made, the administrator shall cooperate in bringing this matter to the attention of the hearing examiner. The hearing examiner may affirm or reverse the decision and instruct the administrator to accept the plat for review. (Ord. 2020-06, 9-29-20; Ord. 2007-02 (part): Ord. 1992-03 (part); Ord. 1985-03 § 6.10)
17.12.020 Time limitation for approval or disapproval of preliminary plats.
Preliminary plats shall be approved, disapproved or returned to the applicant for modification or correction within ninety days from the date of filing unless the applicant consents to an extension of this time period; provided, that if an environmental impact statement is required as provided in RCW 43.21C.030, the ninety-day period shall not include the time spent preparing and circulating the environmental impact statement. The ninety-day period shall also not include any time required by the applicant to complete the submission of any supplementary reports or documentation required by the associated SEPA determination, such as drainage or stormwater reports and road construction plans. (Ord. 2020-06, 9-29-20; Ord. 1985-03 § 6.20)
17.12.030 Preapplication meeting.
When the administrator deems it necessary or at the request of the subdivider, a preapplication meeting may be called between the subdivider or his agent and the agencies involved with plat review prior to submission of a preliminary plat and the SEPA checklist. The administrator shall provide in writing a summary of meeting minutes and any action items from the meeting within fourteen days after the meeting. (Ord. 2020-06, 9-29-20; Ord. 1985-03 § 6.30)
17.12.040 Minimum lot sizes.
A. Prior to the submission of a preliminary plat, it shall be the responsibility of the subdivider to inquire to the district health officer in order to ascertain whether lot sizes larger than required under Section 17.36.030, standard minimum lot sizes, dimensions and proportions, are recommended for the intended lot use.
B. For lots intended for residential use or other building structures, the district health officer shall require a site evaluation test to determine whether the lots are suitable for subsurface sewage disposal. If larger lots are recommended, the district health officer shall forward a statement in writing to the subdivider and a copy to the administrator to this effect and specify the lot sizes, reasons and conditions for the recommendation.
C. For lots not intended for residential use or other building structures, site evaluation testing for subsurface sewage disposal will not be required. A notation shall be placed on the final plat map indicating lots are not intended for residential use or other building structures, and further stating that lots have not been tested for subsurface sewage disposal. (Ord. 1985-03 § 6.40)
17.12.050 Fee.
A subdivision review fee shall be established by the board of county commissioners from time to time. The fee shall be submitted to the Department along with the preliminary plat for preliminary plat review. Checks are to be made payable to the Skamania County Treasurer. Fees are not refundable. The subdivider also shall be responsible for the cost of all notices associated with the subdivision applications that are published in the official county newspaper. (Ord. 1995-08 (part); Ord. 1992-03 (part); Ord. 1985-03 § 6.50)
17.12.060 Preliminary plat distribution.
A. The administrator shall distribute the preliminary plat and the SEPA checklist or environmental impact statement and any restrictive covenants to the following agencies:
1. County engineer;
2. Local health authority;
3. Public utility district;
4. Fire district and/or department of natural resources in which proposed subdivision is located;
5. To any city council adjacent to or within one mile of the proposed subdivision which contemplates the use of any city utilities;
6. To the Washington State Department of Transportation or its successor, if the proposed subdivision is located adjacent to the right-of-way of a state highway;
7. To the Washington State Department of Ecology, or its successor, if the proposed subdivision lies within a flood control zone designated pursuant to Chapter 86.16 RCW;
8. Other utilities (e.g., telephone, cable television);
9. Other relevant agencies as deemed by the administrator.
B. The administrator shall set a date for return of recommendations from each agency to be within thirty days from the date of transmittal to each agency. (Ord. 2020-06, 9-29-20; Ord. 1992-08 (part); Ord. 1985-03 § 6.60)
17.12.070 Hearing examiner hearing date.
A. The administrator, after receiving the recommendations from the agencies who were sent a copy of the preliminary plat and accessory documents under Section 17.12.060, shall set a date for public hearing of the preliminary plat in concurrence with the hearing examiner at a regular meeting of the hearing examiner.
B. The administrator shall forward copies of the agency’s comments and recommendations to the subdivider and hearing examiner at least ten days prior to the preliminary plat public hearing. (Ord. 2020-06, 9-29-20; Ord. 2007-02 (part): Ord. 1985-03 § 6.70)
17.12.080 Notice of hearing.
The administrator shall give notices of the public hearing as follows:
A. To those agencies listed in Section 17.12.060, who received a copy of the preliminary plat and accessory documents;
B. By arranging for publication of the notice of hearing not less than ten days prior to the hearing in the official county newspaper;
C. By posting at least one copy of the notice of hearing at a conspicuous place on the boundary of the proposed subdivision at least ten days prior to the public hearing;
D. By mailing a copy of the notice of hearing to the adjacent landowners at least ten days prior to the public hearing. Adjacent landowners are the owners of real property, as shown by the records of the county assessor, located within three hundred feet of any portion of the boundary of the proposed subdivision. If the owner of the real property which is proposed to be subdivided owns another parcel or parcels of real property which lie adjacent to the real property proposed to the subdivided, notice shall be given to owners of the real property located within three hundred feet of any portion of the boundaries of such adjacently located parcels of real property owned by the owner of the real property proposed to be subdivided;
E. All Hearings Shall Be Public. All notices of hearing shall include a description of the location of the proposed subdivision. The description may be in the form of either a vicinity location sketch or a written description other than a legal description. (Ord. 1985-03 § 6.80)