19.09.170 Criteria for approval.
The city’s comprehensive plan was developed and adopted after significant study and public participation. The goals and policies contained therein shall therefore be granted substantial weight when considering a proposed amendment. The city council shall make written findings regarding each application’s consistency or inconsistency with the following criteria:
A. The proposed amendment will further and be consistent with the goals, policies and objectives of the comprehensive plan; and
B. The proposed amendment is consistent with the Growth Management Act, Puget Sound Regional Council multicounty planning policies, the countywide planning policies and other applicable interjurisdictional policies and agreements, and/or other state or local laws; and
C. The proposed amendment will not adversely impact the city’s ability to provide sewer and water, and will not adversely affect transportation facilities and other public facilities and services such as parks, police, fire, emergency medical services and governmental services; and
D. The proposed amendment advances the public interest; and
E. For text amendments which propose to increase density or intensity of permitted development and all land use map amendments, the following approval criteria also apply:
1. Adequate infrastructure, facilities and services are available to serve the proposed or potential development expected as a result of this amendment, according to one of the following provisions:
a. The city has adequate funds for needed infrastructure, facilities and services to support new development associated with the proposed amendments; or
b. The city’s projected revenues are sufficient to fund needed infrastructure, facilities and services, and such infrastructure, facilities and services are included in the schedule of capital improvements in the city’s capital facilities plan; or
c. Needed infrastructure, facilities and services will be funded by the developer under the terms of a development agreement associated with the comprehensive plan amendment; or
d. Adequate infrastructure, facilities and services are currently in place to serve expected development as a result of this comprehensive plan amendment based upon an assessment of land use assumptions; or
e. Land use assumptions have been reassessed, and required amendments to other sections of the comprehensive plan are being processed in conjunction with this amendment in order to ensure that adopted level of service standards will be met; and
2. For a land use map amendment, the subject parcels being redesignated are physically suitable for the allowed land uses in the designation being requested, including compatibility with existing and planned surrounding land uses; and
3. The proposed amendment will not create a demand to change land use designations of other properties, unless the change in land use designation for other properties is in the long-term interest of the community in general. (Ord. 1365 § 1, 2017; Ord. 1177 § 1, 2009; Ord. 1075 § 1, 2007).