15.03.040 Land use project review and consistency.
A. The review of a proposed project’s consistency with applicable development regulations and the adopted comprehensive plan shall serve as the starting point for project review. Land use permit review shall not reanalyze these land use planning decisions in making a permit decision.
B. The planning director or his/her designee (“director”) may determine through the local project review process that existing requirements including mitigation measures in applicable development regulations and plans and other applicable laws provide adequate mitigation for some or all of the project’s specific adverse environmental impacts.
C. Nothing in this chapter limits the authority of the city to approve, condition, or deny a project as provided in its adopted development regulations and in its policies adopted under RCW 43.21C.060. Project review shall be used to: (1) review and document consistency with comprehensive plans and development regulations; (2) provide prompt and coordinated review by government agencies and the public on compliance with applicable environmental laws and plans, including mitigation for specific project impacts that have not been considered and addressed at the plan or development regulation level; and (3) ensure accountability by local government to applicants and the public for requiring and implementing mitigation measures.
D. Project review shall be used to identify specific project design and conditions relating to the characteristics of a development; to identify specific adverse environmental impacts of the proposal not previously analyzed; and to address the details of site plans, curb cuts, stormwater facilities, transportation demand management, the payment of impact fees, or other measures to avoid or otherwise mitigate a proposal’s probable adverse environmental impacts.
E. A proposed project’s consistency with the city’s development regulations and the appropriate elements of the comprehensive plan or subarea plan adopted under Chapter 36.70A RCW shall be determined by consideration of:
1. The type of land use allowed;
2. The level of development allowed, such as units per acre or other measures of density;
3. Infrastructure, including the adequacy of public facilities and services needed to serve the proposed development; and
4. The characteristics of the proposed development, such as compliance with specific development standards.
F. In determining consistency, the determinations made under this chapter shall be controlling.
G. Nothing in this section requires documentation, dictates procedures for considering consistency, or limits the planning director from asking more specific or related questions with respect to any of the four main categories listed in subsection E of this section. This chapter does not apply to the city’s civil enforcement procedures, Chapter 1.20, except as specifically referenced herein. (Ord. 3774-20 § 3 (Exh. 2), 2020.)