20.30I.130 Initiation of amendment proposals.
A. Amendment Proposals Initiated by the Public or Persons or Entities Other Than the City.
1. General. Members of the public or persons or entities other than the City Council and the City Planning Commission (hereinafter referred to collectively as “the public”) may initiate Comprehensive Plan amendment proposals subject to the provisions of this section. Amendment proposals initiated by the public are reviewed as part of an annual cycle and pursuant to a two-tiered process: a threshold review and a final review, as described below:
a. Threshold Review. The threshold review process will determine those proposals that will be included in the Annual Comprehensive Plan Amendment Work Program and will determine their geographic scope.
i. Planning Commission Review. Pursuant to the applicable provisions of LUC 20.35.400 through 20.35.450, complete applications to propose an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan submitted during the time period set forth in subsection A.2.a of this section will be reviewed by the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing and make a recommendation to the City Council, using the criteria set forth in LUC 20.30I.140, as to which amendment proposals initiated by the public should be included in the Annual Comprehensive Plan Amendment Work Program.
ii. Consideration of Geographic Scope. Prior to the public hearing, the Planning Commission shall review the geographic scope of any proposed amendments. Expansion of the geographic scope may be recommended if nearby, similarly situated property shares the characteristics of the proposed amendment’s site. Expansion shall be the minimum necessary to include properties with shared characteristics. If expansion is recommended, the notice for the public hearing shall describe the geographic scope of the proposed amendments and notice shall be expanded to include each owner of real property within 500 feet of any boundary of the originally proposed area and of the recommended expansion.
iii. City Council Review. The City Council will review the Planning Commission recommendations and the criteria set forth in LUC 20.30I.140 and determine which amendment proposals will be included in the Annual Comprehensive Plan Amendment Work Program and their geographic scope. Those proposals included in the Annual Comprehensive Plan Amendment Work Program will then be referred back to the Planning Commission for further proceedings.
iv. Alternative Disposition. Proposals not included in the Annual Comprehensive Plan Amendment Work Program may, at the City’s discretion, be considered as provided in subsection A.3 of this section.
b. Final Review. The final review process will evaluate the proposed amendments included in the Annual Comprehensive Plan Amendment Work Program and culminate in Council action on the proposed amendments.
i. Planning Commission Review. The Planning Commission will review the proposed amendments included in the Annual Comprehensive Plan Amendment Work Program, hold a public hearing, and make a recommendation to the City Council as to each proposed amendment, using the criteria set forth in LUC 20.30I.150.
ii. City Council Action. The City Council will review the Planning Commission recommendations and the criteria set forth in LUC 20.30I.150 and take action on each proposed amendment in the Annual Comprehensive Plan Amendment Work Program.
2. Application for Consideration of Amendment Proposals.
a. Time. The annual comprehensive plan amendment cycle begins with the application period. Application for consideration of proposals to amend the Comprehensive Plan initiated by the public must be made by September 15th in order to be considered for inclusion in the immediately following year’s Annual Comprehensive Plan Amendment Work Program.
b. Application. Application procedures are set forth in the Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Procedures Guide available at the City Development Services Department and on the City’s website.
c. Who May Apply – Site-Specific and Non-Site-Specific Proposed Amendments.
i. Site-Specific. A property owner or authorized agent of the property owner may propose a site-specific amendment to the Comprehensive Plan.
ii. Non-Site-Specific. Any person or entity may propose a non-site-specific amendment to the Comprehensive Plan.
d. Three-Year Limitation. A specific property, policy topic or land use issue shall not be the subject of a comprehensive plan amendment proposal initiated by the public and reviewed by the City more frequently than once every three years. This three-year limitation applies when an application is submitted for Process IV review.
Property added to an original proposal through expansion of the geographic scope by the City is also subject to the three-year limitation.
3. Alternatives for Proposals Not Included in the Annual Comprehensive Plan Amendment Work Program.
a. Ongoing Work Program. A proposal that is not included in the Annual Comprehensive Plan Amendment Work Program may, at the City’s discretion, be included in a previously established ongoing work program if it raises policy or land use issues more appropriately addressed by such ongoing work program.
b. Comprehensive Plan Update. A proposal that is not included in the Annual Comprehensive Plan Amendment Work Program may, at the City’s discretion, be considered in the course of the City’s next Comprehensive Plan Update required by RCW 36.70A.130(4) if it addresses a matter appropriate to include in the Comprehensive Plan and is consistent with current policy implementation in the Countywide Planning Policies, GMA, and other state or federal laws and implementing regulations.
B. Amendment Proposals Initiated by the City Council or the Planning Commission.
1. City Council.
a. Initiation. Proposals to amend the Comprehensive Plan may be made by the City Council at any time. An affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the total members of the Council is required to initiate consideration of an amendment. Amendment proposals initiated by City Council are not subject to the three-year limitations of subsection A.2.d of this section that apply to amendment proposals initiated by the public.
b. Review. Amendment proposals initiated by City Council will be reviewed by the Planning Commission and acted upon by Council as set forth in subsection A.1.b of this section, Final Review.
2. Planning Commission.
a. Initiation. Proposals to amend the Comprehensive Plan may be made by the Planning Commission at any time and submitted to the City Council for consideration for inclusion in the Annual Comprehensive Plan Amendment Work Program. Amendment proposals initiated by the Planning Commission are subject to the three-year limitations of LUC subsection A.2.d of this section that apply to amendment proposals initiated by the public.
b. Review. The Council will review the Planning Commission proposals and determine which will be included in the Annual Comprehensive Plan Amendment Work Program. Those proposals included will be referred back to the Planning Commission and Council for final review as set forth in subsection A.1.b of this section.
3. Subarea Plan Review. The City Council may initiate a review of a Subarea Plan in accordance with the procedure specified in subsection B.1 of this section when it concludes that the issues arising in a Subarea are of sufficient magnitude and complexity to merit review through a Subarea Plan review process.
Prior to review of a Subarea Plan, the Council shall approve a public involvement program that has the goal of effectively and efficiently soliciting a broad spectrum of public viewpoints. (Ord. 6495, 12-2-19, §§ 1, 3; Ord. 5650, 1-3-06, § 2)