19.04.002 Initial SEPA analysis.
A. In addition to the land use consistency review, the director shall review the project permit application for consistency with the State Environmental Policy Act (“SEPA”), Chapter 43.21C RCW, the SEPA Rules, Chapter 197-11 WAC, and the city environmental policy ordinance, Chapter 18.04 GHMC, and shall:
1. Determine whether applicable regulations require studies to adequately analyze all of the proposed project’s specific probable adverse environmental impacts;
2. Determine whether applicable regulations require mitigation measures to adequately address identified environmental impacts; and
3. Provide prompt and coordinated review by other government agencies and the public on compliance with applicable environmental laws and plans, including mitigation for specific project impacts that have not been considered and addressed at the plan or development regulation level.
B. In its review of a project permit application, the director shall determine whether the requirements for environmental analysis, protection and mitigation measures in the applicable development regulations, comprehensive plan and/or in other applicable local, state or federal laws provide adequate analysis of and mitigation for the specific adverse environmental impacts of the proposal.
C. If the director bases or conditions his or her approval of the project permit application on compliance with the requirements or mitigation measures described in subsection A of this section, the city shall not impose additional mitigation under SEPA during project review for the same adverse environmental impacts.
D. A comprehensive plan, development regulation or other applicable local, state or federal law provides adequate analysis of, and mitigation for, the specific adverse environmental impacts of a proposal when:
1. The impacts have been avoided or otherwise mitigated; or
2. The city has designated in the plan, regulation or law that certain levels of service, land use designations, development standards or other land use conditions allowed by Chapter 36.70A RCW are acceptable.
E. In deciding whether a specific adverse environmental impact has been addressed by an existing city plan or development regulation, or by the regulations or laws of another government agency, the director shall consult orally or in writing with that agency and may expressly defer to that agency. In making this deferral, the director shall base or condition any project approval on compliance with these other regulations.
F. Nothing in this section limits the authority of the director in reviewing or mitigating the impacts of a proposed project to adopt or otherwise rely on environmental analyses and requirements under other laws, as provided by Chapter 43.21C RCW.
G. The director shall also review the application under Chapter 18.04 GHMC, the city environmental policy ordinance; provided, that such review shall be coordinated with the underlying permit application review. (Ord. 806 § 16, 1998; Ord. 711 § 1, 1996).