HomeMy WebLinkAbout03 Required findings – JCC 18.45.050(4)(b) and JCC 18.45.080(1)Jefferson County Code Page 1/3
The Jefferson County Code is current through Ordinance 12-25, passed December 22, 2025.
18.45.050 Compilation of preliminary docket. (1) Preliminary Docket – Contents. The preliminary docket described more fully in subsections (2) through (4) of this section shall consist of the following:
(a) All proposals for formal site-specific amendments;
(b) All proposals for suggested amendments; and
(c) When applicable, all amendments recommended by the planning commission during its periodic assessment of the Comprehensive Plan.
(2) List of Suggested Amendments. Each year, the administrator shall maintain for public review the annual list of suggested amendments made by citizens, the board of county commissioners or members of the board of county commissioners, county staff, county departments or other agencies. By the end of the second full business week of March of each year, this list of suggested amendments shall be compiled into a preliminary docket. JCC 18.45.060 sets forth the process for selecting which suggested amendments will be placed on the final docket to be formally reviewed during the annual review process.
(3) Formal Site-Specific Amendments. The preliminary docket shall also include all formal site-specific applications for Comprehensive Plan amendments. Formal site-specific applications for amendments that are properly and timely filed under JCC 18.45.040(2)(a) shall be placed on the final docket for consideration during the current annual amendment process.
(4) Planning Commission Periodic Assessment – Recommendations.
(a) Periodic Assessment – Timelines. The planning commission shall review, and if necessary, recommend revisions to the Comprehensive Plan during the periodic assessment in accordance with RCW 36.70A.130. The planning commission shall complete its assessment of the Comprehensive Plan by November 1st of the year prior to the assessment. Any amendments recommended by a majority vote of the planning commission shall be forwarded to the administrator by March 1st of the year in which the periodic assessment is conducted. The administrator shall place all such recommended amendments on the preliminary docket to be considered during the final docket selection process set forth in JCC 18.45.060.
(b) Criteria Governing Planning Commission Assessment. The planning commission’s periodic assessment and recommendation shall be based upon, but shall not be limited to, an inquiry into the following growth management indicators:
(i) Whether growth and development as envisioned in the Comprehensive Plan is occurring faster or slower than anticipated, or is failing to materialize;
(ii) Whether the capacity of the county to provide adequate services has diminished or increased;
(iii) Whether sufficient urban land is designated and zoned to meet projected demand and need;
(iv) Whether any of the assumptions upon which the plan is based are no longer found to be valid;
(v) Whether changes in county-wide attitudes necessitate amendments to the goals of the plan and the basic values embodied within the Comprehensive Plan Vision Statement;
(vi) Whether changes in circumstances dictate a need for amendments;
(vii) Whether inconsistencies exist between the Comprehensive Plan and the GMA or the Comprehensive Plan and the County-wide Planning Policy for Jefferson County. [Ord. 2-06 § 1]
18.45.080 Final docket – Planning commission and board of county commissioners review. (1) Planning Commission Review. All proposed amendments on the final docket shall be reviewed and assessed by the planning commission, which shall make a recommendation to the board of county commissioners after holding at least one open record public hearing.
Jefferson County Code Page 2/3
The Jefferson County Code is current through Ordinance 12-25, passed December 22, 2025.
(a) Notice. The hearing before the planning commission shall be noticed by one publication in the official newspaper of the county at least 10 days prior to the date of the hearing and by posting a copy of the notice of hearing in the Jefferson County Courthouse. This notice shall include the following:
(i) The purpose(s) of amending and/or updating the Comprehensive Plan;
(ii) The deadline for submitting comments on the amendments; and
(iii) A tentative hearing schedule; continued hearings may be held by the planning commission but no additional notices need be published.
(b) Required Findings – Generally. For all proposed amendments, the planning commission shall develop findings and conclusions and a recommendation which consider the growth management indicators set forth in JCC 18.45.050(4)(b)(i) through (4)(b)(vii), as well as the following:
(i) Whether circumstances related to the proposed amendment and/or the area in which it is located have substantially changed since the adoption of the Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan;
(ii) Whether the assumptions upon which the Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan is based are no longer valid, or whether new information is available which was not considered during the adoption process or any annual amendments of the Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan; and
(iii) Whether the proposed amendment reflects current widely held values of the residents of Jefferson County.
(c) Additional Required Findings – Formal Site-Specific Amendments. In addition to the required findings set forth in subsection (1)(b) of this section, in order to recommend approval of a formal site-specific proposal to amend the Comprehensive Plan, the planning commission must also make the following findings:
(i) The proposed site-specific amendment meets concurrency requirements for transportation and does not adversely affect adopted level of service standards for other public facilities and services (e.g., sheriff, fire and emergency medical services, parks, fire flow, and general governmental services);
(ii) The proposed site-specific amendment is consistent with the goals, policies and implementation strategies of the various elements of the Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan;
(iii) The proposed site-specific amendment will not result in probable significant adverse impacts to the county’s transportation network, capital facilities, utilities, parks, and environmental features that cannot be mitigated, and will not place uncompensated burdens upon existing or planned service capabilities;
(iv) In the case of a site-specific amendment to the land use map, that the subject parcels are physically suitable for the requested land use designation and the anticipated land use development, including, but
not limited to, the following:
(A) Access;
(B) Provision of utilities; and
(C) Compatibility with existing and planned surrounding land uses;
(v) The proposed site-specific amendment will not create a pressure to change the land use designation of other properties, unless the change of land use designation for other properties is in the long-term best
interests of the county as a whole;
(vi) The proposed site-specific amendment does not materially affect the land use and population growth
projections that are the bases of the Comprehensive Plan;
Jefferson County Code Page 3/3
The Jefferson County Code is current through Ordinance 12-25, passed December 22, 2025.
(vii) If within an unincorporated urban growth area (UGA), the proposed site-specific amendment does not materially affect the adequacy or availability of urban facilities and services to the immediate area and the overall UGA;
(viii) The proposed amendment is consistent with the Growth Management Act (Chapter 36.70A RCW), the County-Wide Planning Policy for Jefferson County, any other applicable inter-jurisdictional policies or agreements, and any other local, state or federal laws.
(d) Recommendation. The planning commission’s findings and conclusions shall include a recommendation to the board of county commissioners that the proposed amendment(s) be denied, approved, or approved with conditions or modifications.
(2) Board of County Commissioners Review – Appeals.
(a) Board of County Commissioners Workshop. The board of county commissioners may first review the recommendation of the planning commission in a workshop meeting(s).
(b) Board of County Commissioners Review. The board of county commissioners shall consider the proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan at a regularly scheduled meeting. If after considering the matter at the regularly scheduled public meeting the board of county commissioners deems a change in the recommendation of the planning commission to be necessary, the change shall not be incorporated until the board conducts its own public hearing using the procedures set forth under JCC 18.40.280. The hearing shall be noticed by one publication in the official newspaper of the county at least 10 days prior to the date of the hearing, and by posting copies of the notice of hearing in the Jefferson County Courthouse. The notice and public hearing for proposed Comprehensive Plan amendments may be combined with any notice or public hearing for proposed amendments to the county’s Comprehensive Plan implementing regulations (e.g., this code), or for other actions of the board of county commissioners.
(c) Criteria for Evaluation of Proposed Plan Amendments. The board of county commissioners shall apply the same criteria as the planning commission as set forth in subsections (1)(b) and (1)(c) of this section, as
applicable.
(d) Adoption by Ordinance. The board of county commissioners shall adopt any amendments to the Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan by ordinance. This final action on the docket must be taken by the second regular board meeting in December of each year.
(e) Transmittal to State. The administrator shall transmit a copy of any proposed amendment of the Comprehensive Plan to the Washington State Office of Community Development (OCD) at least 60 days prior to the expected date of final action by the board of county commissioners, as consistent with Chapter 36.70A RCW. The administrator shall transmit a copy of any adopted Comprehensive Plan amendment to OCD within 10 days after adoption by the board.
(f) Appeals. All appeals to the adoption of an amendment to the Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan shall be filed with and processed by the Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 36.70A RCW. [Ord. 2-06 § 1]