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SUBJECTS › PLANNING › Summary of SSB 5841 Extending GMA Plan/Development Regulation Update Deadlines
 
Summary of SSB 5841 Extending GMA Plan/Development Regulation Udpate Deadlines

Summary of SSB 5841 Extending GMA Plan/Development Regulation Update Deadlines

The legislature has passed the following bill which extends the comprehensive plan/development regulations update deadlines for all cities and counties. Note that non-GMA cities and counties are also required to update certain policies and development regulations.

The following summary is excerpted from the March 18, 2002 AWC Legislative Bulletin (Vol 25, No. 9):

GMA Timelines Bill Offers Relief

What does the bill do?

SSB 5841 delays mandatory September 2002 GMA updates (including critical area ordinances) in all cities and counties. The bill also specifies that subsequent updates shall occur every seven years rather than the current requirement for every five years. The update deadlines in the bill are as follows:

  • December 2004 for King, Pierce, Snohomish, Kitsap, Clark, Thurston, Jefferson, Clallam and Whatcom counties.

  • December 2005 for Cowlitz, Island, Lewis, Mason, San Juan, Skagit and Skamania counties.

  • December 2006 for Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Kittitas, Spokane and Yakima counties.

  • December 2007 for Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grays Harbor, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla and Whitman counties.

In addition the bill:

  • Allows any county or city required to update by December 2004 to skip the first required update if one is finalized after January 1, 2001.

  • Does not add any new planning requirements or references to best available science.

  • Makes clear that cities and counties must hold a public hearing to decide what updates, if any, are appropriate for local plans and regulations.

  • Restates current law provisions describing state funds that can not be accessed if a city or county is out of compliance with GMA including review and update requirements.