HomeMy WebLinkAboutReview CriteriaCh. 18.45 JCC
Pre-Application Conference PRE2021-00004
February 12, 2021
Review criteria for Comprehensive Plan Amendments
Criteria Governing Planning Commission [and BOCC] 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]
Final docket – Planning commission and board of county commissioners review
(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based are no longer valid, or whether new information is available which was not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
Ch. 18.45 JCC
Pre-Application Conference PRE2021-00004
February 12, 2021
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;
(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.