walla walla county community development department · 2018. 8. 9. · walla walla county community...
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Staff Report: City of Walla Walla - South (CPA17-008/REZ17-008) Page 1 of 2
March 12, 2018 Preliminary Docket BOCC Hearing
Walla Walla County Community Development Department
310 W. Poplar Street, Suite 200, Walla Walla, WA 99362 / 509-524-2610 Main
Date: March 12, 2018
To: Board of County Commissioners
From: Tom Glover, Director Lauren Prentice, Principal Planner
RE: Public Hearing Agenda Item No. 2 –– considering inclusion/exclusion of City of Walla Walla - South applications on 2018 Final Docket (CPA17-008/REZ17-008)
Docketing Process for Annual Amendments The purpose of the Preliminary Docket is to review the amendments based on initial criteria (shown below), staff does not complete a thorough technical analysis of the merits for each of the applications until the Final Docket. Once the Final Docket is established by the Board of County Commissioners, the amendments on the Final Docket will be reviewed pursuant to Walla Walla County Code (WWCC) Sections 14.10.070 and 14.15.070, including environmental analysis under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). Later a public information meeting will be held as required by Sections 14.10.050B(2) and 14.15.050B(2), followed by possible workshops and required public hearings with the Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners. Review Criteria WWCC Section 14.10.060D(3) – Comprehensive Plan Amendment Criteria
a. Need b. Urgency c. Appropriateness
WWCC Section 14.15.060D(3) – Development Regulation Amendment Criteria (for rezone application)
a. The amendment is consistent with the comprehensive plan; b. The amendment is consistent with other development regulations, unless accompanied by
amendments to such other development regulations; and c. The amendment is appropriate for consideration at this time.
Attachments and background materials Items below with asterisks have been provided to the Board at past meetings or electronically but are listed here for the record on this item and inclusion in the notebooks.
A. Notice of Public Hearing and Certificate of Notification B. Letter from the Department of Commerce dated 02/15/18* C. Notebooks containing application materials, public comments, and staff reports provided to
the Planning Commission on 02/07/18 (and the BOCC on 02/20/18)* Summary of Proposal City of Walla Walla Comprehensive Plan and zoning map amendment applications to remove 198-acres at 3rd Avenue and Langdon Road, bounded by Yellowhawk Street on the north, from the Walla Walla urban growth area (UGA) and assign Rural Residential 5 land use and zoning designations. Amend land use maps LU-1 and LU-3, and the County Zoning Map.
Staff Report: City of Walla Walla - South (CPA17-008/REZ17-008) Page 2 of 2
March 12, 2018 Preliminary Docket BOCC Hearing
Current land use designation: Low Density Residential Proposed land use designation: Rural Residential 5 Current zoning: R-96 Suburban Residential Proposed Zoning: Rural Residential 5-acres (RR-5) Total Area: 198 acres
Staff Recommendation At the February 7, 2018 Planning Commission meeting, staff recommended to the Planning Commission that these applications be considered for inclusion on the 2018 Final Docket for further consideration. The Staff Report provided to the Planning Commission is included in your notebook. The staff report did note some concerns regarding the application, including that removing the Urban Growth Area designation and replacing it with a rural designation and zoning would result in nonconforming lots. If this amendment moves on to the Final Docket, that issue will need to be further reviewed. Planning Commission Recommendation The Planning Commission voted unanimously, 5 – 0, with two members absent, to concur with staff’s recommendation, and recommend that the Board of County Commissioners include the proposal in the Final Docket. See Planning Commission Resolution 18-01. Public and Agency Comments A couple members of the public spoke in support of this application at the February 7 Planning Commission public hearing; no one spoke in opposition. No written public comments have been received. At the February 20 workshop the Board was provided with a letter from the Department of Commerce which includes some general comments on both UGA amendment proposals including the reminder that “UGA amendments are based on a variety of decision that reflect the need to accommodate new growth, existing capacity in UGA, strategies to accommodate growth, and costs to provide urban services.”
BOCC Notice of Public Hearing – March 12, 2018 Page 1 of 2
Walla Walla County Community Development Department
310 W. Poplar Street, Suite 200, Walla Walla, WA 99362 / 509-524-2610 Main
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
WALLA WALLA COUNTY, WA
The Board of County Commissioners will be holding a public hearing on Monday, March 12, 2018 relating to the 2018 Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations Amendment Application Cycle. The Planning Commission reviewed the applications on the Preliminary Docket on February 7 and forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners a recommended Final Docket. Pursuant to Walla Walla County Code (WWCC 14.15.060E.1 and 14.10.060E.1), the Board of County Commissioners will hold public hearings to consider whether the following applications, described below, should be included or excluded from the 2018 Final Docket.
1. ZCA17-004 – Abeja Winery Type III Winery Zoning Code Amendments Proposal by Abeja Winery to amend Chapter 17.08 – Definitions and Chapter 17.22 – Development Standards – Wineries and Breweries to establish a new definition for ‘Type III Winery.’ A Type III Winery would be able to provide overnight accommodations (e.g. bed and breakfast, inn). Under the proposal, a Type III winery could also have accessory uses that would include but are not limited to a restaurant, catering facility, banquet and meeting rooms. Amend Section 17.16.014 – Permitted Uses Table to make Type III Winery permitted in the Rural Residential Mill Creek 5 (RRMC-5) district. The Planning Commission voted 3-2, with two members absent, to recommend that the Board of County Commissioners not include the application in the Final Docket.
1. CPA17-008/REZ17-008 – City of Walla Walla – South – 3rd and Langdon UGA Removal City of Walla Walla Comprehensive Plan and zoning map amendment applications to remove 198-acres at 3rd Avenue and Langdon Road, bounded by Yellowhawk Street on the north, from the Walla Walla urban growth area (UGA) and assign Rural Residential 5 land use and zoning designations. Amend land use maps LU-1 and LU-3, and the County Zoning Map. The Planning Commission voted unanimously, 5 – 0, with two members absent, to recommend that the Board of County Commissioners include the proposal in the Final Docket.
2. CPA17-007/REZ17-007 – City of Walla Walla – North – Lower and Middle Waitsburg UGA Expansion City of Walla Walla Comprehensive Plan and zoning map amendment applications to add 329-acres at between Lower and Middle Waitsburg Roads to the Walla Walla UGA and assign Master Planning Community/Urban Planned Community land use and zoning. Amend land use maps LU-1 and LU-3, and the County Zoning Map. The Planning Commission voted 3-2, with two members absent, to recommend that the Board of County Commissioners include the proposal in the Final Docket.
2. ZCA17-003 – Perry Dozier Water Bottling Zoning Code Amendments Application by Perry Dozier to amend Chapter 17.08 – Definitions to add a definition for “water bottling” and amend Section 17.16.014 – Permitted Uses Table to make ‘water bottling’ a permitted use in all resource and rural agriculture districts (EA-120, PA-40, GA-20, AR-10, RA-5, RA-10). The Planning Commission voted 3-2, with two members absent, to recommend that the Board of County Commissioners not include the application in the Final Docket.
BOCC Notice of Public Hearing – March 12, 2018 Page 2 of 2
This hearing will address only the four applications listed above that are being considered for addition to or subtraction from the Final Docket of the Walla Walla County Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations 2018 amendment cycle. All other applications (CPA18-001-Walla Walla County, CPA17-005/REZ17-005/ZCA17-005-City of College Place #1; CPA17-006/REZ17-006-City of College Place #2; CPA17-004/REZ17-004-Sheryl Cox; and CPA17-003/REZ-003 J.R. Simplot Company) submitted for the Preliminary Docket will be included in Final Docket for consideration.
Written comments regarding the above application may be submitted prior to and at the hearing on March 12. Send written comments to the following addresses:
Board of County Commissioners c/o Walla Walla County Community Development Department 310 W. Poplar, Suite 200 Walla Walla, WA 99362 or email to: [email protected]
PUBLIC HEARING INFORMATION County Public Health and Legislative Building
314 West Main Street 2nd floor - Room 213
Walla Walla, Washington
Monday, March 12, 2018
ZCA17-004, Abeja Winery: Type III Winery Zoning Code Amendments
at 4:30 PM or as close thereto as possible
CPA17-008/REZ17-008, City of Walla Walla: South UGA Removal
at 5:15 PM or as close thereto as possible
CPA17-007/REZ17-007, City of Walla Walla: North UGA Expansion
at 6:00 PM or as close thereto as possible
ZCA17-003, Perry Dozier: Water Bottling Zoning Code Amendments
at 7:00 PM or as close thereto as possible
Any interested person may comment on this application, receive notice, and participate in any hearings and request a copy of the decision. FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information regarding this meeting, please contact Lauren Prentice, Principal Planner, at 509-524-2610 or [email protected]. Walla Walla County complies with ADA; reasonable accommodation provided with 3 days notice.
Walla Walla County Community Development Department
310 W. Poplar Street, Suite 200, Walla Walla, WA 99362 / 509-524-2610 Main
Certificate of Notification File Number: 2018 Preliminary Docket
(ZCA17-003 Dozier, ZCA17-004 Abeja, CPA17-008/REZ17-008 City of Walla Walla South, and CPA17-007/REZ17-007 City of Walla Walla North
Site Address: Non-project applications – county or area wide Type of Notice: Notice of Public Hearing – 03/12/18 Review Level/Type: Level 5 Proof of Mailing I certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington that the content of the above form of notice was
Emailed to the parties included in the attached mailing list on 2/27/2018
Mailed to the parties included in the attached mailing list on 2/28/2018
Lauren Prentice Printed Name
_____________________________ Signature
3/8/2018 Date
Proof of Publishing I certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington that the content of the above form of notice was
Published in the official gazette (Union Bulletin) on 3/1/2018
Published in paper(s) of general circulation (The Times and Tri-City Herald) on 3/1/2018
Published on the CDD website on the following date: 3/1/2018
Lauren Prentice Printed Name
_____________________________ Signature
3/8/2018 Date
OWNER NAME IN CARE OF ADDRESS1 CITY STATE ZIPCODE
A.G. & Tracy Killgrove 619 Middle Waitsburg Rd. Walla Walla WA 99362 WWN
Abeja, LLC 2014 Mill Creek Road Walla Walla WA 99362 Abeja
Albert Sutlick 3135 Canberra Walla Walla WA 99362 WWS
Annie Capestany 1333 Alvarado Terrace Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
Art Brookins 120 W. 2nd Street Waitsburg WA 99361 Dozier
Art Brookins PO Box 511 Waistburg WA 99361 Dozier
Barlow Corkrum 206 Stanton Walla Walla WA 99361 Dozier, WWN
Beth Call 102 Otis Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
Beth Powers 1881 Loubeck Walla Walla WA 99363 Dozier
Beth Thiel 533 Pleasant Street Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
Bonnie Szuch 917 Prospect Avenue Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
Candace Rose 908 Penrose Ave Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
Chandler Briggs 329 SW 12th Street College Place WA 99324 Dozier
Christophe Baron Cayuse PO Box 1602 Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
City of Walla Walla c/o Elizabeth Chamberlain 55 E. Moore Street Walla Walla WA 99362 WWS, WWN, Cox
Clint Rehn 413 Craig Street Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
Dave Fogarty 1680 Cambridge Walla Walla WA 99362 WWN
Denice Folsom 45 Iris Lane Walla Walla WA 99362 WWN
Dorothy Knudsen 215 Rancho Villa Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier, Abeja, WWN
Dorothy Knudsen PO Box 2046 Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier, Abeja, WWN
Doug Saturno 330 Craig Street Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
Douglas Saturno 41 S. Palouse St Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
Earl McFarland 3037 Middle Waitsburg Rd Walla Walla WA 99362 WWN
Gerwin Jones Jr. 411 Caldwell Road Walla Walla WA 99362 WWS
Jack R. Hansen 194 S. Campbell Rd. Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
James Angell 5721 Blazing Star Rd. Cheyenne WY 82009 WWN
James K. Hayner PO Box 1757 Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
Jean Dolling 208 Detour Rd Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
Joe Patrick PO Box 921 Waitsburg WA 99361 Dozier
John Avery 216 Main Street Waitsburg WA 99361 Dozier
Judith Shulman 333 Greystone Dr Walla Walla WA 99361 Abeja
Kate Hockersmith PO Box 752 Waitsburg WA 99361 Dozier
Kathryn Barron 2491 Country Club Road Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
Kathryn Howard 734 University Street Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
Kurt Gillen 28 NE Mullberry Court College Place WA 99324 Dozier
Linda Herbert 621 Pleasant Street Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
Madeline Brown 1142 Olive Street Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
Markeeta Little Wolf 208 W. 4th Street Waitsburg WA 99361 Dozier
Mary Campbell 336 McCorkle Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier, WWS
Meg Duhr 1122 West Elm St Walla Walla WA 99363 Dozier
Michael Cleveland 100 NE Spitzenburg College Place WA 99324 Dozier
Michael Hubbard 208 W 4th Street Waitsburg WA 99361 Dozier
Naomi Blinick 1122 West Elm St Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
Norm Osterman 1032 Pamona Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
Norm Osterman PO Box 1535 Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
Paul Gregutt 213 West Street Waitsburg WA 99361 Dozier
Penny Hawkins 624 Hobson Street Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
Perry and Darleen Dozier 262 Connover Road Waitsburg WA 99361 Dozier
Renea Hadley 2924 Cottonwood Rd Walla Walla WA 99362 WWS
Richard Monachelli 444 Washington Street Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
RL McFarland 3731 Middle Waitsburg Rd Walla Walla WA 99362 Abeja, WWN
RL McFarland PO Box 1142 Walla Walla WA 99362 Abeja, WWN
Ron Jolliffe 867 SE Sentry College Place WA 99324 Dozier
Ruth Russo 1401 Home Ave Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
Sarah Groffman 820 Orchard Street Walla Walla WA 99363 Dozier
Stanley Green PO Box 95 College Place WA 99324 Dozier
Steve Jachym 830 SE Birch St Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
Susan Gail Gwinn PO Box 921 Waitsburg WA 99361 Dozier
Susan Janelle 903 No. Main St Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
Ted Cox 19 Coyote Ridge Drive Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
Tiffany Cain 1413 Portland Ave Walla Walla WA 99362-2159 Dozier
Trey Busch Sleight of Hand Cellars 1959 JB George Road Walla Walla WA 99362 Dozier
Andy Porter <[email protected]>; Al Sutlick <[email protected]>; Alexandra Fitzgerald
<[email protected]>; Allen Ketelsen ([email protected]); Amber Larson
<[email protected]>; Andy Porter <[email protected]>; Andy Pryor
<[email protected]>; Annie Capestany <[email protected]>; Arleen Shade
<[email protected]>; 'Art Brookins' <[email protected]>; 'Barlow Corkrum'
<[email protected]>; Ben Case <[email protected]>; Beth Call <[email protected]>; Beth
Powers <[email protected]>; Beth Thiel <[email protected]>; 'Bonnie and Bill Szuch'
<[email protected]>; Brad Rice <[email protected]>; Bruce McCaw ([email protected]); C Godard
Gross <[email protected]>; Candace Rose <[email protected]>; 'Carlan Bradshaw'
<[email protected]>; Carlos Acevedo <[email protected]>; Chandler Briggs
([email protected]); Cheryee Dillon <[email protected]>; Chris Howard
<[email protected]>; Chris Nelson <[email protected]>; Clint Rehn <[email protected]>;
Connie Dahlke <[email protected]>; Craig Newcomb <[email protected]>; Craig
Volwiler <[email protected]>; Dale Jordan <[email protected]>; 'Dana Kurtz'
<[email protected]>; Dana McElroy <[email protected]>; Dave Barnes
<[email protected]>; 'Dave Fogarty' <[email protected]>; David Ensunsa
<[email protected]>; David Niemi <[email protected]>; Dirk Nelson
<[email protected]>; Don Schwerin <[email protected]>; Donna Anderson
<[email protected]>; Dorothy Knudson <[email protected]>; Doug Beamer
<[email protected]>; 'Edith Liebrand ([email protected])'; Elizabeth Chamberlain
([email protected]); Emily Maass <[email protected]>; Eric Berglin
<[email protected]>; Eric Sayler <[email protected]>; Fred Crowe <[email protected]>; Gail
Gwinn <[email protected]>; Gary Stratton <[email protected]>; Genie Crowe
<[email protected]>; 'Greg Flowers' <[email protected]>; 'Greg Flowers'
<[email protected]>; Gregg Dohrn <[email protected]>; Hannah Donaldson
<[email protected]>; Heather Geertsen <[email protected]>; Holly Howard
<[email protected]>; '[email protected]'; Jacqueline George <[email protected]>;
James Angell <[email protected]>; 'James Hayner' <[email protected]>; Jason Hair
<[email protected]>; Jennifer Mallo <[email protected]>; Jeremy Davidson-McCloy
<[email protected]>; jhansen <[email protected]>; Jim Duncan
<[email protected]>; Jim Peterson <[email protected]>; Jo Shay
<[email protected]>; 'Joe Patrick' <[email protected]>; John Cleghorn
<[email protected]>; John Cowen <[email protected]>; John Hair III <[email protected]>; John
Jamison <[email protected]>; John Wells ([email protected]); Jon Rickard
<[email protected]>; 'Judith Shulman' <[email protected]>; Karen Ann Cowen
<[email protected]>; Karen Szall <[email protected]>; Kari Isaacson
<[email protected]>; 'Kate Hockersmith' <[email protected]>; Kate Russell
<[email protected]>; Kathryn Barron <[email protected]>; Kathryn Howard
<[email protected]>; Kathy Berg <[email protected]>; 'Kathy Jordan'
<[email protected]>; Kip Kelly <[email protected]>; Kurt Gillen
<[email protected]>; Laura Smith <[email protected]>; Linda Herbert <[email protected]>;
Linda Newcomb ([email protected]); Marjzon Lopez-Wade <[email protected]>; Mark Jones
<[email protected]>; Mark Plummer <[email protected]>; 'Marlene Howard'
<[email protected]>; Marrikay Locati <[email protected]>; Mary Campbell
<[email protected]>; Michael Corliss ([email protected]); Michael
Fredrickson <[email protected]>; Michael Scrimsher <[email protected]>;
Michelle Liberty ([email protected]); Michelle Ma <[email protected]>; Mike Taylor
<[email protected]>; Mike Wickstrom ([email protected]); ML Yocum
<[email protected]>; Molly Reid <[email protected]>; 'Nathan Larson ([email protected])';
Noah Leavitt <[email protected]>; 'Norm Osterman' <[email protected]>; Pat Reay
([email protected]); Pat Templeton <[email protected]>; Patrick Jones
<[email protected]>; Paul Gerola <[email protected]>; Paul Gregutt
<[email protected]>; 'Perry Dozier ([email protected])'; Peter Ober <[email protected]>;
Peter Swant <[email protected]>; '[email protected]'; Rachel Nagler
<[email protected]>; Ralph and Jane Bell <[email protected]>; Randy Grant
<[email protected]>; Randy Mallo <[email protected]>; Renee M Hadley
<[email protected]>; 'RL McFarland' <[email protected]>; Robert Baker
<[email protected]>; Robert Berger <[email protected]>; Robert Riley
<[email protected]>; Ruth Russo <[email protected]>; Sheryl Cox <[email protected]>;
Stanley Green <[email protected]>; Steve Owens <[email protected]>; Steve Schmidt
<[email protected]>; Steven Jachym <[email protected]>; 'Susan Janelle'
<[email protected]>; Suzann Rose <[email protected]>; Suzanne Sullivan
<[email protected]>; 'Tamara Biddle' <[email protected]>; Ted Cox
<[email protected]>; Teresa Woods <[email protected]>; Theresa Haswell
<[email protected]>; Tim Brown <[email protected]>; Tim Caudill <[email protected]>;
Tina Dumser <[email protected]>; Todd Schumacher <[email protected]>; Trey
Busch <[email protected]>; 'Vic Conrad' <[email protected]>; Wayne and Cherree Langford
<[email protected]>; Yev Kolesnikov <[email protected]>; Chuck Carruthers
<[email protected]>; Tom Glover <[email protected]>; Donald Sims <[email protected]
walla.wa.us>; Lauren Prentice <[email protected]>
STATE OF WASHINGTON
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 1011 Plum Street SE PO Box 42525 Olympia, Washington 98504-2525 (360) 725-4000
www.commerce.wa.gov February 15, 2018
Mr. Thomas E. Glover, AICP
Walla Walla County Community Development
310 W. Poplar Street
Walla Walla, Washington 99362
RE: Walla Walla County 2018 Docket
Dear Mr. Glover:
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed, 2018 docket for Walla Walla County. We
thank you for the County’s continued coordination with our agency as you work to achieve the
Community’s vision consistent with the goals and requirements of the Growth Management Act (GMA).
We appreciate the fact that the County has incorporated some of our previous recommendations in your
staff reports and technical analysis regarding growth projections, population allocations, and protecting
designated resource lands of long-term commercial significance. We would like to offer the following
comments as you finalize your docket and consider amendments to your Comprehensive Plan.
The County’s population projection and allocation process appears well reasoned and defensible.
While the OFM medium series is the Office of Financial Management’s (OFM) most likely
projection1, your underlying analysis for selecting a countywide growth projection and allocating
growth to municipalities is logical and appropriate based on local circumstances. This is a critical
step in the periodic update and, as your staff report indicates, is important in assessing capacity
for new growth and considering Urban Growth Area (UGA) amendments.
The County received proposals from the City of College Place to remove approximately 216
acres from the College Place UGA, and add an equivalent amount of land to other areas that are
better served by existing or future urban services.
We appreciate that your staff report recognizes a distinction between the proposed zone, and the
existing Airport Development - Walla Walla Regional Airport zone. If you approve this
application, we encourage the County to think carefully about this proposed zoning designation.
The City’s application identified several site constraints that would preclude or limit
development. Urban services will not be available to support development if the land is removed
from the UGA.
1 RCW 43.62.035
Mr. Thomas E. Glover
February 15, 2018
Page 2
We concur with the County’s conclusion that a land capacity analysis is a necessary step if this
item is moved to the final docket. One of the primary objectives of the periodic update is to
ensure that sufficient capacity of land suitable for development is available over the twenty-year
planning period to support necessary housing and employment growth, along with the other broad
range of needs and uses that accompany urban growth.2 Completion of a land capacity analysis
for the City of College Place may reveal that the initial proposal needs to be adjusted to reflect the
needs to accommodate future urban growth in the City.
The County also received two proposals from the City of Walla Walla to adjust the Walla Walla
UGA. These proposals include the removal of approximately 197.8 acres, and the addition of
329.4 acres. The City has expressed concerns about constraints associated with the area proposed
for removal, along with development patterns that create challenges for the City in providing
urban services.
The County raises compelling points in the underlying analysis regarding the proposed
expansion, citing our previous comments on the significance of the agricultural industry for the
state, regional, and local economies. The County may also consider that the draft Land Use
Element available on the City’s website indicates that the City currently has capacity for
approximately 13,000 additional people in the City limits and UGA, and that the City needs to
accommodate only 6,332 people in twenty-year planning period.3 UGA designations cannot
exceed the amount of land necessary to accommodate projected growth4, and allocated growth is
the basis for UGA sizing decisions.5
Removing some or all of the land south of the City limits would clearly affect the City’s available
capacity. However, we have concerns that the proposal does not consider the necessary
locational requirements for locating urban growth.6 The proposal also does not appear to
consider UGA boundaries based on projected growth consistent with OFM forecasts and county
allocations.
UGA amendments are based on a variety of decisions that reflect the need to accommodate new
growth, existing capacity in a UGA, strategies to accommodate growth, and costs to provide
urban services. Often, new information arises during the planning process that requires
reassessment of preliminary strategies for accommodating growth. We recommend that the
County and City remain flexible in considering various strategies to accommodate the projected
growth, whether these applications are moved to the final docket or not. In addition, we also
encourage the County to review your development regulations in unincorporated UGAs as part of
your update process. Our conversations with City and County staff, along with some of the
information in your staff report (CPA 17-008/REZ17-008), indicate that development occurring
in unincorporated UGAs may be precluding urban densities, which is a violation of GMA
requirements.7 There are a number of tools to address this issue, including interlocal agreements,
memorandums of understanding, or revising existing development regulations in County code.
2 RCW 36.70A.110(2) and RCW 36.70A.115(1) 3 City of Walla Walla Draft Land Use Element (November 2017), pg. 3-4 4 Thurston County v. WWGMHB and 1000 Friends of WA (No. 80115-1) WA Supreme Court, 2008 5 See Spokane County v. EWGMHB, et al (No. 32240-8-III) Court of Appeals, 2015 6 RCW 36.70A.110(3) 7 RCW 36.70A.110
Mr. Thomas E. Glover
February 15, 2018
Page 3
As the County considers potential UGA changes for College Place and Walla Walla that are in
the vicinity of regional airports, the County should contact the Washington State Department of
Transportation Aviation Division to determine if a formal consultation is necessary. RCW
36.70.547 requires formal consultation prior to adopting comprehensive plan policies or
development regulations that may affect property adjacent to public use airports. We recommend
engaging in the formal consultation process as soon as possible to ensure appointed and elected
officials have the best information available as they consider land use changes that could affect
local airports.
As a reminder, any UGA changes require developing a financially constrained capital facilities
and transportation element showing how proposed areas will be provided with adequate public
services. These amendments must address the required components of the capital facilities and
transportation elements described in RCW 36.70A.070. Our administrative rule, WAC 365-196-
310, provides more details and recommendations for meeting the requirements of considering and
sizing UGAs.
We extend our continued support to Walla Walla County in achieving the goals of the Growth
Management Act and the vision of your community. Thank you again for the opportunity to comment. If
you have any questions or would like technical assistance on any land use issues, please feel free to
contact me at [email protected] or 509-280-3602.
Sincerely,
William Simpson, AICP
Senior Planner
Growth Management Services
Washington State Department of Commerce
WS:lw
cc: Lauren Prentice, Principal Planner, Walla Walla County
Elizabeth Chamberlain, AICP, Development Services Director, City of Walla Walla
Jon Rickard, Planning Director, City of College Place
Patrick Wright, Aviation Planner, WSDOT
Mark McCaskill, AICP, Managing Director, Growth Management Services
David Andersen, AICP, Eastern Region Manager, Growth Management Services
Ike Nwankwo, Western Region Manager, Growth Management Services