Section 365-196-650. Implementation strategy.

Each county or city planning under the act should develop a strategy for implementing its comprehensive plan. The strategy should describe the regulatory and nonregulatory measures (including actions for acquiring and spending money) to be used to implement the comprehensive plan. The strategy should identify each of the development regulations needed.

(1) Selection. In determining the specific regulations to be adopted, counties and cities may select from a wide variety of types of controls. The strategy should include consideration of:

(a) The choice of substantive requirements, such as the delineation of use zones; general development limitations concerning lot size, setbacks, bulk, height, density; provisions for environmental protection; urban design guidelines and design review criteria; specific requirements for affordable housing, landscaping, parking; levels of service, concurrency regulations and other measures relating to public facilities.

(b) The means of applying the substantive requirements, such as methods of prior approval through permits, licenses, franchises, or contracts.

(c) The processes to be used in applying the substantive requirements, such as permit application procedures, hearing procedures, approval deadlines, and appeals.

(d) The methods of enforcement, such as inspections, reporting requirements, bonds, permit revocation, civil penalties, and abatement.

(2) Identification. The strategy should include a list of all regulations identified as development regulations for implementing the comprehensive plan. Some of these regulations may already be in existence and consistent with the plan. Others may be in existence, but require amendment. Others will need to be written.

(3) Adoption schedule. The strategy should include a schedule for the adoption or amendment of the development regulations identified. Individual regulations or amendments may be adopted at different times. However, all of the regulations identified should be adopted by the applicable final deadline for adoption of development regulations.

(4) The implementation strategy for each jurisdiction should be in writing and available to the public. A copy should be provided to the department. Completion of adoption of all regulations identified in the strategy will be construed by the department as completion of the task of adopting development regulations for the purposes of deadlines under the statute.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 36.70A.050 and 36.70A.190. WSR 10-03-085, § 365-196-650, filed 1/19/10, effective 2/19/10.]

RCW 36.70A.050 and 36.70A.190. WSR 10-03-085, § 365-196-650, filed 1/19/10, effective 2/19/10.