Planning Procedures and Practices

Contents

• Introduction
• Public Meeting Procedures
• Hearing Examiner System
• Permit Assistance
• Regulatory Reform/Permit Procedures
• Resources

Introduction

This page provides an index to MRSC pages that address a variety of topics, including public meetings, hearing examiner system, permit assistance and regulatory reform permit procedures. It also includes a few resources available on external (non-MRSC) webpages.

Public Meeting Procedures

• Appearance of Fairness Doctrine
• Conflicts of Interest
• Effective Meetings
• Open Public Meetings Act
• "Public Hearings: When and How to Hold Them," by Bob Meinig, MRSC Research Brief, 08/1998
• External Webpages
  • Robert's Rules of Order
  • National Association of Parliamentarians Web Page – Parliamentary basic, definitions and more.  Also offers some inexpensive publications are available including “A Simplified Guide to Motions.”   

Hearing Examiner System

• Use of Hearing Examiners by Cities and Counties in Washington, MRSC Focus Publication, 05/1999 
• Hearing Examiners List - used by cities and counties
• Hearing Examiner System in Washington

Permit Assistance

• Permit Assistance Related to RCW 36.70B.220 (SHB 2386)
• Permit Assistance Handout Examples
• Planning Fees

Planning Commission

• Planning Commission

Regulatory Reform/Permit Procedures

• Regulatory Reform (ESHB 1724) Overview  
• Regulatory Reform Examples
• Permit Procedures Studies
• Permit Monitoring/Annual Development Permit Reports
• Examples of Measures to Streamline Permit Processing
• Planned Action (Development project whose impacts have been addressed by an EIS associated with a plan for a specific geographic area)
• Development Agreements
• Customer Service Policies
• Building Code/Permit Administration

Resources

• Governor's Office of Regulatory Assistance
• Department of Commerce Web Page: Permit Process, including links to relevant statutes, handbooks and to Local Project Permitting Study () prepared by the Department of Community Trade and Economic Development (now the Department of Commerce), Growth Management Services, January, 2005  
• HUD Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse
• Massachusetts Permit Regulatory Council- Includes Best Practices Model for Streamlined Local Permitting