HomeMy WebLinkAbout20-065 Related to the 2021 Annual Update to the City’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan Resolution 20-063
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RESOLUTION 20-065
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND
RELATED TO THE 2021 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 2021 annual amendment process to suggested amendments given that:
Resolution 20-063
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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 be completed on
or before June 30,2021.
c. The volume of land use permits has remained steady while staff resources have remained
constant. Outside of the 2 months following the initiation of the business closures due to
Covid when permit submittals dropped in volume,the remainder of 2020 has seen permit
volumes on par with those in 2019. DSD is operating to capacity in terms of the current
planning/permit review functions.
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. In February of 2021,the Department will be adopting the new set of building codes,and
with the lack of a Building Official this will require substantial effort from existing staff.
f. In 2021,DSD will continue working on code amendments related to housing and
improving permit processing efficiencies.
g. DSD staff time will be required for environmental review and permitting of key Capital
Facilities projects including:
i. Sewer Outfall Replacement
ii. Discovery Road Improvements
iii. Gaines Street pump station
h. If the 2021 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 2021 budget does not have allocated funds
for additional staff or land use consultants.
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 2021 annual update
except those required by PTMC 20.04.020(B) and initiation of the City's Shoreline Master
Program periodic review.
Resolution 20-063
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ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend at a regular business
meeting thereof held this 7th day of December 2020.
Michelle Sandoval
Mayor
Attest: Approved as to form:
Joanna Sanders, MMC Heidi .cz wo(
City Clerk City ttor y Cc