Sample Only

Thurston County
Memorandum of Understanding regarding Urban Growth Area Zoning and Development Standards

The purpose of this Memorandum is to set forth the Agreement between Thurston County and the cities of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater on adoption and implementation of Urban Growth Area zoning and development standards.

WHEREAS, the cities of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater have adopted Joint Plans to guide the character of future development within their respective Urban Growth Areas:

WHEREAS, Thurston County has also adopted these Joint Plans and made them a part of its Comprehensive Plan:

WHEREAS, the Washington State Growth Management Act requires Thurston County to enact development standards consistent with its adopted Comprehensive Plan:

WHEREAS, Thurston County and the cities of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater will each adopt development standards intended to implement the Joint Plans applicable to their respective cities and their Urban Growth Areas: and

WHEREAS, Thurston County and the three cities find that the adoption of such standards by the County will contribute to the achievement of the long term objectives that each city has for the development of its Urban Growth Area:

NOW THEREFORE, Thurston County and the cities of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater do hereby agree that:

Section 1: Thurston County will adopt each city's zoning standards, except that the County will retain its authority to approve administrative variances and to conditionally approve expansion of non-conforming uses and structures. It is also understood that review procedures under each of the standards will be modified to conform to existing County review procedures.

Section 2: Thurston County will maintain administration of its Critical Areas Ordinance within the Urban Growth Area, except the County will modify its ordinance to adopt each city's method of calculating development densities.

Section 3: Thurston County will adopt a Forest Practices Ordinance that applies a single approach throughout the Urban Growth Area. This approach is intended to support forest management practices that retain and integrate significant stands of trees into the layout and design of developments within the Urban Growth Area.

Section 4: Thurston County will maintain administration of its current Subdivision Ordinance within the Growth Area, except that the County will amend either its subdivision or zoning code to reflect the different open space requirements for each of the three cities.

Section 5: Thurston County will adopt each city's street design standards. It is intended that civil engineering plan review and inspections for streets and utilities related to private development projects will be conducted by each city's staff under the direction of the County Engineer. The cities may charge plan review, permit and inspection fees as necessary to cover the cost of providing these services.

Section 6: Thurston County will adopt city design standards only for commercial and multiple-family projects greater than fourplexes.

Section 7: Thurston County will adopt the various village classifications advanced by the cities, except that some review procedures may need to be modified to accommodate existing County review processes.

Section 8: Thurston County and the cities of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater agree that it is desirable to annex properties located within village classifications prior to securing development approvals. Where prior annexation is not possible, city staff will lead review processes for village projects. The cities may charge development review fees as necessary to cover the cost of providing theses services.

Section 9: The cities of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater will each provide 75% of the funding to support the preparation of a County bill draft version of each of their respective development standards.

Section 10: The cities of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater will provide ongoing technical assistance and support to County staff responsible for implementing their development standards in their respective Urban Growth Areas.

Section 11: The cities of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater agree that the standards adopted in reliance upon this agreement are the complete requirements for developments within the Growth Area. The cities will not apply additional physical development requirements as a condition of utility connection approval.

Section 12: Thurston County and the cities of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater agree to develop a process for the joint consideration and adoption of future code amendments affecting the Urban Growth Area. The parties further agree to establish a process for resolving disagreements over implementation of this Agreement.

AGREED TO THIS 7th DAY OF DECEMBER, 1995 BY

____________________________
Judy Wilson, Chairman,

Thurston County Board of County Commissioners

____________________________
Bob Jacobs, Mayor, City of Olympia

____________________________
Jon Halvorson, Mayor, City of Lacey

____________________________
Ralph Osgood, Mayor, City of Tumwater

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

____________________________
Bernardean Broadus, Prosecuting Attorney

Attest:

____________________________
Clerk of the Board