WAC 365-195-840   Essential public facilities.  (1) Development regulations for identifying and siting essential public facilities shall be consistent with and implement the process for this purpose set forth in the comprehensive plan.

     (2) The regulations should list those types of facilities which the planning jurisdiction has determined are essential, pursuant to the definition and the criteria established in the comprehensive plan for identifying such facilities. The designated facilities should include those listed by the state office of financial management and those necessary to list in order to comply with county-wide planning policies. In addition, other facilities needed locally should be listed. These may include facilities which receive funding from the state or other governmental units, but which are not identified on the state list or by virtue of county-wide policies.

     (3) Except where county-wide planning policies have otherwise dictated siting choices, provision should be made for the possibility of siting each of the listed essential public facilities somewhere within each jurisdiction's planning area.

     (4) For the purposes of making the threshold determination on whether a proposal presents siting difficulties, the regulations should specify a method for publicizing applications for siting essential public facilities and for soliciting initial comment on the site(s) proposed. The regulations should describe how and by whom the threshold decision will be made.

     (5) For proposals involving siting difficulties, the regulations should:

     (a) Provide requirements for notice to other interested jurisdictions, and for public participation in the siting decision;

     (b) Consistent with county-wide planning policies, require an evaluation of feasible alternative sites and of equity in geographical distribution;

     (c) When appropriate interlocal agreements have been made, provide for an interjurisdictional process for facilities of a county-wide, regional or statewide nature;

     (d) Call for an evaluation of the extent to which design features or operational conditions can eliminate or reduce unwanted project impacts;

     (e) Where appropriate, establish incentives or require amenities for siting in particular areas;

     (f) Include in criteria for siting decisions a consideration of the need for the particular facility in light of established level of service standards or planning assumptions.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 36.70A.190 (4)(b). 93-17-040, § 365-195-840, filed 8/11/93, effective 9/11/93; 92-23-065, § 365-195-840, filed 11/17/92, effective 12/18/92.]