HomeMy WebLinkAbout117Michelle Farfan
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
David Goldsmith <DGoldsmith@cojefferson.wa.us>
Friday, June 10, 20L6 2:02 PM
David Alvarez
FW: FW: P.C. Roles and Responsibilities
lf your around, please look this over and give me a call so we can discuss my resaponse. David
From: cynthiakoan@gmail.com [mailto:cynthiakoan@gmail.com] On Behalf Of Cynthia Koan
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2016 72:37 PM
To: David Goldsmith <DGoldsmith@co.jefferson.wa.us>; Philip Morley <pmorley@co.jefferson.wa.us>
Subject: Re: FW: P.C. Roles and Responsibilities
Hi David (DG),
Thank you for the information you sent on the role of the Planning Commission. However, my specific request was actually for somethinl
overall role.
What needs to be confirmed and clarified in writing is that adopting the proposed MPR regulations cunently before the Planning Commiss
quasi-judicial action for a particular development or for a particular developer. It would be helpful to get a clear statement from you that v
we're all working off the same script. THIS is the question we have been asking over and over and getting different answers.
There seems to be wide-spread misunderstanding that this is a quasi-judicial action (which has more stringent rules around whom we can t
developer. My request is for you to simply and clearly lay out the difference for all interested parties, in easily understood terms, so that tl
Commission fits into that process. Additionally, if you could articulate when the developer's application was filed (if it has been), how an
application relates in timing and in fact to the regulations and the development agreement and vesting, this would give us additional conte>
As you know, we recently leamed that the draft regulations we received were written by the developer, and that the draft included the deve
regulations. According to DWG, he added a couple of paragraphs but otherwise those regulations appear to have come to us mostly intact
Our work over the last months has been to understand some of these questions. The conclusion we've come to is that these regulations, be'
Plan designated MPR on Black Point, and not specific to a particular developer or development. This is not clearly stated in any version o
Because this process has been so murky, because it is not clear that staffhas completely understand this, and because this aspect ofthe pro
taken a long time for us as a Planning Commission to get clear on this and I believe that some of us still are not.
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That is why I am making this request specifically of you as acting Director of DCD. I believe you are the best person to clearly explain thi
where we are now, and to clariff the process for the public, the applicant, the PC members and staff. I also request that this "state of the pt
Commission's meetings.
As you and I have talked about, important work needs to be done during the comprehensive plan review process to make sure that for any
out. The benefit of this struggle needs to be an outcome that will clari$ the process for others in the future.
Sincerely,
Cynthia Koan, Chair
Jefferson County Planning Commission
Cynthia Koan
Computer Coach and Technician
Voice: 360-385-4234
Scheduling: www.schedulecynthia.com
On Tue, Jun 7, 2016 at 9:01 AM,D avi d Go ldsmith <D Go l dsmith@,co. i e fferson yra.us) wrote :
The roles and responsibilities of the Planning Commission are spelled out in RCW 36.70 and Resolutron 54-97
portions of which are provided below:
RCW 36.70.040
Department-Creation-Creation of commission to assist department.
By ordinance a board may, as an alternative to and in lieu of the creation of a plaruring commission as
provided in RCW 36.70.030, create a planning department which shall be organized and function as any other
department of the county. When such department is created, the board shall also create a planning commission
which shall assist the planning department in carrying out its duties, including assistance in the preparation and
execution of the comprehensive plan and recommendations to the department for the adoption of official
controls and/or amendments thereto. To this end, the planning commission shall conduct such hearings as are
required by this chapter and shall make findings and conclusions therefrom which shall be transmitted to the
department which shall transmit the same on to the board with such comments and recommendations it deems
necessary.
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RCW 36.70.600
Official controls-Recommendation to board-Required vote.
The recommendation to the board of any official control or amendments thereto by the planning agency
shall be by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the total members of the commission. Such
approval shall be by a recorded motion which shall incorporate the findings of fact of the commission and the
reasons for its action and the motion shall refer expressly to the maps, descriptive and other matters intended
by the commission to constitute the plan, or amendment, addition or extension thereto. The indication of
approval by the commission shall be recorded on the map and descriptive matter by the signatures of the chair
and the secretary of the commission and of such others as the commission in its rules may designate.
RCW 36.70.550
Official controls.
From time to time, the planning agency may, or if so requested by the board shall, cause to be prepared
official controls which, when adopted by ordinance by the board, will further the objectives and goals of the
comprehensive plan. The planning agency may also draft such regulations, programs and legislation as may, in
its judgment, be required to preserve the integrity of the comprehensive plan and assure its systematic
execution, and the planning agency may recommend such plans, regulations, programs and legislation to the
board for adoption.
RCW 36.70.545
Development regulations-Consistency with comprehensive plan.
Beginning July I ,1992, the development regulations of each county that does not plan under RCW
36.704.040 shall not be inconsistent with the county's comprehensive plan. For the purposes of this section,
"development regulations" has the same meaning as set forth in RCW 36.704.030. ((7) "Development
regulations" or "regulation" means the controls placed on development or land use activities by a county or
city, including, but not limited to, zoning ordinances, critical areas ordinances, shoreline master programs,
official controls, planned unit development ordinances, subdivision ordinances, and binding site plan
ordinances together with any amendments thereto.)
RCW 36.70.610
Offi cial controls-Reference to board.
A copy of any official control or amendment recommended pursuant to RCW 36.70.550, 36.70.560,
36.70.570 and 36.70.580 shall be submitted to the board not later than fourteen days following the action by
the commission and shall be accompanied by the motion of the planning agency approving the same, together
with a statement setting forth the factors considered at the hearing, and analysis of findings considered by the
commission to be controlling.
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In addition I have included portions of Resolution 54-97 which re-constituted the Planning Commission:
SECTION I. PLANNING COMMISSION RECONSTITUTED.
The Board of County Commissioners, pursuant to the provisions of RCW 3064.700.and pursuant to RCW
367.0B 120 (l) does hereby abolish the existing planning commission,
consisting of nine (9) members and hereby establishes a new reconstituted Planning Commission which shall
assist the planning department in carrying out its duties, including assistance in the preparation and execution
of a county zoning ordinance and Shoreline Management Master Program, periodic updating of the
Comprehensive Plan and Shoreline Management Master
Program, and make recommendations to the department for the adoption of official controls
and/or amendments thereto
SECTION 2. PLANNING COMMISSION CONDUCTS HEARINGS.
The Planning Commission shall conduct such hearings as are required by RCW 36.70.010. et seq to and
including RCW 36.70.960. and shall make findings of fact and
conclusions therefrom which shall be transmitted to the Planning Department which shall transmit the same to
the Board of Commissioners with such comments and recommendations as
it deems necessary.
SECTION 3. POWERS AND DUTIES.
The powers and duties of the Planning Commission shall be such as are now described by RCW 36.70.010.e1
seq and other applicable laws of the State of Washington. When directed to
do so by the Board of Jefferson County Commissioners, the County Planning Commission shall also perform
such other duties as are not inconsistent with state law. Upon request the
commission shall assist the Jefferson County Planning Department and Jefferson County Board of
Commissioners in carrying out the county's planning program and those duties prescribed by the Washington
State Planning Enabling Act and the Growth Management Act. The commission shall assist and advise in the
development of and any revisions to the Jefferson County
Comprehensive Plan and Shoreline Management Master Program and official controls and/or amendments
thereto, and carrying out those duties prescribed therein. The commission shall act as policy advisors in matters
conceming general land use and shoreline use within the county. The commission shall recommend planning
and shoreline policies to make certain they are
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consistent with the goals and policies of the community as expressed in the Comprehensive Plan and
amendments thereto and the Shoreline Management Master Program and amendments
thereto. The commission from time to time may also make inquiries, or develop reports or recommendations.
The commission shall report in all matters referred to it within forty (40) days or within such time as specified
by the board. The report of the commission shall be advisory only.
SECTION 4. ADMINISTRATIVE RBSPONSIBILITY (RELATING TO THE PLANNING
coMMrssroN).
The position designated the duties of director of planning (RCW 36.10,160).s hall be appointed by the Board
of County Commissioners. The director shall be responsible for the
proper operation of the planning department; shall be directly responsible to the Board of County
Commissioners; shall have the responsibility of supervising the personnel of the planning staff; and shall be
responsible for providing technical assistance to the planning commission
Comment:
The role of the Planning Commission with respect to the Board of County Commissioners is advisory, as
expressed above and as we discussed. This means the task of the Planning Commission is to review the
proposed Development Regulations to determine if they are consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, which
includes the Pleasant Harbor MPR made part of the Comprehensive Plan through Ordinance #01-0128-08. If
they are, then to make that finding listing the factors used to make that determination and forward your
recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners. If they are, but would be more in line with the
Comprehensive Plan with modifications, then your duty would be to advise the BoCC on what modifications
you would recommend. I would put any modification in plain language not code, as a sentence or paragraph
would better express your concems and intent. If the regulations are not consistent with the Comprehensive
Plan, then make that finding and advise the BoCC on what factors were determining to reach that conclusion
and forward your recommendation.
I hope this will assist you and your fellow Planning Commission members in coming to a conclusion on the
proposed Development Regulations for the Pleasant Harbor MPR.
Sincerely,
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David Goldsmith
Interim Director
Jefferson County Department of Community Development
(360\ 379-44s0
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