30.74.060 Processing of final docket.
(1) The department shall distribute the final docket to any state or local agency which is required by law to review and evaluate proposed amendments and revisions to the comprehensive plan and implementing development regulations. The department shall also conduct any review required by SEPA of the proposed amendments and revisions listed on the final docket.
(2) The department will process the final docket in accordance with chapter 30.73 SCC, except as provided to the contrary in this section. The department shall prepare a report including a recommendation on each proposed amendment and forward the report to the planning commission. The department will recommend approval if all the following criteria are met:
(a) The proposed amendment and any related proposals on the current final docket maintain consistency with other plan elements or development regulations;
(b) All applicable elements of the comprehensive plan, including but not limited to the capital plan and the transportation element, support the proposed amendment;
(c) The proposed amendment more closely meets the goals, objectives and policies of the comprehensive plan than the relevant existing plan or code provision;
(d) The proposed amendment is consistent with the countywide planning policies;
(e) The proposed amendment complies with the GMA; and
(f) New information is available that was not considered at the time the relevant comprehensive plan or development regulation was adopted that changes underlying assumptions and supports the proposed amendment.
(3) Unless otherwise directed by the county council, any county department that conducts review and evaluation of the proposed amendments, including any necessary environmental review pursuant to SEPA, shall complete its evaluation prior to action by the planning commission on the proposed amendments, except that a final or final supplemental environmental impact statement must be completed no later than seven days prior to final action by the county council.
(4) For final dockets that are limited to minor proposals by SCC 30.74.015(2)(a), the department and the planning commission shall complete their processing of the final docket and transmit final recommendations to the county council within 12 months of the date the county council sets the final docket, except as provided by subsection (6) of this section.
(5) For final dockets that may include major or minor proposals under SCC 30.74.015(2)(b), the department and the planning commission shall complete their processing of the final docket and transmit final recommendations to the county council within 24 months of the date the county council sets the final docket, except as provided by subsection (6) of this section.
(6) If the department determines that a proposed amendment on the final docket requires additional time for processing, the department shall seek direction from the county council on whether to shift that proposed amendment to a future batch or whether to keep it in its current batch and delay final action on the entire batch.
(7) Consistent with SCC 30.73.070(1), the county council is not required to take action on any proposed amendment on the final docket. The options available to the county council include, but are not limited to:
(a) Adopting the proposed amendment from the final docket;
(b) Amending and adopting the proposed amendment consistent with chapter 30.73 SCC;
(c) Removing the proposed amendment from the final docket by motion;
(d) Not introducing an ordinance to approve the proposed amendment;
(e) Delaying consideration of the proposed amendment to a future docket; or
(f) Otherwise not taking action on the proposed amendment.
(8) If the county council removes a proposed amendment from the final docket by motion under subsection (7)(c) of this section, it shall refund to the applicant the unspent portion of the money the applicant paid to the county for SEPA environmental review and studies in connection with the proposed amendment being on the final docket.
(9) If the county council does not take action on a proposed amendment within one year of the planning commission hearing on that proposed amendment, the proposed amendment shall be removed from the final docket and not processed further.
(10) The applicant shall be responsible for the cost of printing, publishing, and mailing of any SEPA notification required for the applicant’s final docket proposal by chapter 30.61 SCC.
(11) The applicant shall be responsible for the cost of printing, publishing, and mailing of notice for any public hearing required for the applicant’s final docket proposal by chapter 30.73 SCC. (Added by Amended Ord. 02-064, Dec. 9, 2002, Eff date Feb. 1, 2003; Amended by Amended Ord. 10-022, Sept. 8, 2010, Eff date Oct. 3, 2010; Amended by Ord. 17-100, Nov. 29, 2017, Eff date Dec. 24, 2017).