Providing a process for county legislative authorities to withdraw from voluntary planning under the growth management act.
Summary
Allows a county that elected to fully plan under the Growth Management Act (GMA) and that has 20,000 or fewer inhabitants to reduce the planning obligations that it and the cities within must satisfy under the GMA.
Expires the authority of a county to reduce planning obligations for it and the cities within on December 31, 2015.
Specifies that a county action to reduce planning obligations for it and the cities within does not nullify requirements that counties and cities must satisfy for natural resource lands, critical areas, the employment of the best available science, and the rural element of a comprehensive plan.
Establishes that a county action to reduce planning obligations for it and the cities within may be invalidated if, provided the county is not in compliance with certain requirements of the GMA at the time of the county's reduction action, the county does not receive a determination of compliance from the Department of Commerce (Commerce).
Makes compliance determinations by Commerce subject to review by the Growth Management Hearings Board.
From the Engrossed House Bill Report (EHB 1224), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗