The only mention of public involvement in the program is in the Citizens Advisory Committees and the final hearings before the Planning Commission and County Commissioners. The Petitioners point out that nowhere does the Program provide for a broad dissemination of proposals and alternatives. The public is not informed of the proposals until there is final draft of a proposal on the table. The Petitioners do not consider these provisions adequate involvement in the planning process. The County further believes that a lesser degree of public participation is required because they are responding to a finding of non-compliance and have less time for such participation.
Public participation is a core of the Growth Management Act.
RCW 36.70A.140 requires the development and wide dissemination of a public participation program identifying procedures providing for early and continuous public participation in the development and amendment of the comprehensive land use plans and development regulations implementing such plans. The importance of the program cannot be minimized. This program must be not only developed but also widely disseminated to the public. A plan that is unknown to the public is not an adequate plan. The plan must also provide for early and continuous public participation.