15.02.110 Public notice and comments.
A. Content and Timing of Notice.
1. Posting of Property. Where posting is required as part of a particular review process, a notice shall be posted conspicuously in two places on or near the subject property and shall be readily accessible for the public to review. Whenever the subject property fronts on a public street or alley, the property shall be posted with one sign per frontage including alleys plus one additional sign for each additional one hundred fifty lineal feet of frontage; provided, if more than a total of five hundred lineal feet of frontage exists, then the number of actual signs required and their placement shall be discretionary with the planning director (see next paragraph on posting of linear projects). All signs required to be posted shall remain in place until the final SEPA determination has been made.
2. Posting of Linear Projects. Signs shall be posted for linear projects, including projects that traverse numerous properties or occur along an alignment or corridor, every one-quarter mile, or as otherwise determined by the director, in locations readily accessible to the public. The planning director may determine the size and content of the signs.
3. Content of Posted Signs. The posting notice shall contain the following information:
a. The name of the applicant;
b. The address or locational description of the subject property;
c. A written description of the requested action or actions;
d. Identification of the existing environmental document that evaluates the application;
e. For Review Process III, the date of public hearing, and for Review Process II, the date by which written comments must be received;
f. The name, address, and phone number of the staff contact person;
g. A site plan; and
h. A statement regarding the availability of the notice of application and the location where the application may be reviewed.
4. Mailing. Where mailing to contiguous or adjacent property owners is required, the content of the notice shall meet the requirements for a notice of application and any other additional requirements for specific project notice as set forth in this chapter. Mailing shall be by first class mail unless otherwise specified by this chapter or by the planning director.
5. Publication in Official City Newspaper. Where publication is required as part of the notification for a particular review process, the notification shall be published in the official newspaper designated by city council. Notice shall be published at least fifteen days prior to the date of hearing or date of decision, as applicable.
6. Responsibility for Notice.
a. The city shall be responsible for publication of notice.
b. The applicant shall be responsible for posting the property subject to the application in compliance with rules established by the planning director.
c. The applicant shall provide the planning director with an affidavit of compliance with the posting requirements of this section.
d. The applicant shall be responsible for providing a mailing list in compliance with rules established by the planning director. The city shall be responsible for mailing the notice of application.
7. Costs. All costs of providing notice shall be borne by the applicant.
B. Electronic Notice. The planning director may establish procedures for providing notice and receiving comments electronically. The planning director may adopt forms that will facilitate the ability of applicants to file applications and to provide information electronically and for the city to issue notices electronically.
C. Public Comments.
1. Comments must be in writing, shall be as specific as possible, and shall be reasonably related to the factual circumstances or development standards applicable to the proposed action.
2. Comment Period on Notice of Application. Comments on a notice of application shall be submitted within fourteen days of its issuance; provided, however, that the fourteen-day comment period shall commence on the date that the site is posted or notices published or mailed, whichever occurs later. Other than commenting on the notice of application, any other comment periods should be specified in the public notice inviting comments.
3. Exceptions.
a. Land Divisions.
(1) Comments on Review Process II preliminary subdivision, or subdivisions and short subdivision alteration or vacation applications shall be submitted within twenty days of the issuance of the notice of application.
(2) A copy of all written comments on Review Process II land divisions shall be provided to the applicant, and the applicant will have seven days from the receipt of the comments to respond to the city.
b. Shoreline Permits. Comments on shoreline substantial development, conditional use or variance permit applications shall be submitted within thirty days of the issuance of the notice of application, except that comments shall be submitted within twenty days for shoreline permits for limited utility extensions or for the construction of a bulkhead or other measures to protect a single-family residence and its appurtenant structures from shoreline erosion. See the definitions section of the city’s shoreline master program for the definition of a limited utility extension.
4. “Submitted” means “physically or electronically received by the city.” Notice: the city does not assume any responsibility for failure to receive comments received electronically. A sender should seek confirmation that the city received the comments to satisfy the timing required for submission of comments. (Ord. 3774-20 § 3 (Exh. 2), 2020.)