HomeMy WebLinkAbout19-092 Related to the 2020 Annual Update to the City’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan Resolution 19-092
Page I of 3
RESOLUTION 19-092
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
RELATED TO THE 2020 ANNUAL UPDATE TO THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE LAND
USE PLAN
WHEREAS,the City adopted a 20-Year Comprehensive Growth Management Plan through
Ordinance No. 2539 on July 15, 1996 to meet the goals and requirements of Chapter 36.70A RCW
(also known as the Growth Management Act"GMA"); and,
WHEREAS,the City adopted its current Zoning Code (Title 17 PTMC) on April 7, 1997
(Ordinance No. 2571), to comply with the GMA and to implement the Plan; and,
WHEREAS,since initial adoption in 1996, the City has undertaken numerous
amendments to the Plan to ensure that the plan remains consistent with the goals and
requirements of the GMA, as well as emerging community trends; and,
WHEREAS, on October 3, 2016, Council adopted amendments to the Comprehensive
Plan and Chapters 17 and 18 of the municipal code in partial compliance with the GMA periodic
update (RCW36.70a.130); and,
WHEREAS, on May 21, 2018, Council adopted amendments to the Critical Areas
Ordinance completing the City's GMA requirement under RCW36.70A.130; and,
WHEREAS, RCW 36.70A.470 and WAC 365-196-640 require that the City establish a
procedure for considering amendments to the comprehensive plan on an annual basis; and,
WHEREAS, PTMC 20.04.020 (B) sets forth amendment cycles and identifies the types
of amendments that shall be docketed and considered on an annual basis as follows:
1. Site-specific "formal" applications, timely filed and accompanied by a filing fee;
2. Time sensitive mandated amendments as determined by the Director of Development
Services;
3. Amendments necessary to address a deficiency in the comprehensive plan or
development regulations identified during project review(pursuant to RCW
36.70A.470(3)), provided, if resources are unavailable, the amendment could be carried
over;
WHEREAS, under PTMC 20.04.035(B), Council may open the annual amendment process
to non-mandatory amendments. Council must decide whether to do so on or before December 15th of
each year. Council's decision should be based upon consideration of available resources to review
amendments and implement the Comprehensive Plan; and,
WHEREAS, the Director of Development Services has recommended that the City not
open the 2020 annual amendment process to suggested amendments given that:
Resolution 19-092
Page 2 of 3
a. With adoption of Ordinance 3154 on October 3, 2016, the City has recently
completed an extensive update to the Comprehensive Plan and development
regulations including numerous suggested amendments.
b. The City is mandated by RCW90.58.080(4)to complete a periodic review of the
Shoreline Master Program on or before June 30,2021(due to state budget cycle,the
original 2020 deadline was extended to 2021). Work on this project will begin in 2020.
c. The volume of land use permits has steadily increased while staff resources have remained
constant. In 2016,the Development Services Department(DSD) experienced a 30%
increase in permit volume from the previous year. Permit volumes in 2017 and 2018
remained consistent with the previous high experienced in 2016, and 2019 volumes are on
track to exceed the number from 2016. DSD is close to capacity in terms of the amount of
work possible with the existing staffing levels within the department.
d. Permits include a variety of housing projects in the early stages of review that have
the potential to substantially increase the housing supply in the city.
e. Council's 2019-2022 Strategic Plan—calls for several PTMC amendments and measures
to improve internal procedures improvements to facilitate permit review consistency and
efficiency.
f. DSD staff time will be required for environmental review and permitting of key Capital
Facilities projects including:
i. Sewer Outfall Replacement
ii. Shoreline Armoring repair at Water/Gaines/Adams Street ends
iii. Discovery Road Improvements
iv. Construction of 70' Street
g. If the 2020 update was open to suggested amendments, additional staff or consultant
resources may be necessary to process those amendments and still comply with the
mandatory updates and ongoing projects. The 2020 budget does not have allocated funds
for additional staff or land use consultants.
h. When staff resources do become available,they may be directed toward implementation
of the Comprehensive Plan and items on the Council's Strategic Plan,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of Port Townsend that,
pursuant to PTMC 20.04.035(B),no amendments will be considered in the 2020 annual update
except those required by PTMC 20.04.020(B) and initiation of the City's Shoreline Master
Program periodic review.
Resolution 19-092
Page 3 of 3
ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend at a regular business
meeting thereof held this 2nd day of December 2019.
Ab
Mayor
Attest: Approved as to form:
S11w
.. _ ..._ �. m ......................
Joanna Sanders, MMC 1 i Greeny ood ...
City Clerk City Attorney