Washington Administrative Code › Title 365 - Commerce, Department of (Community Development) › Chapter 365-197 - Project consistency › Section 365-197-050 - Criteria to analyze consistency of project actions

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) In considering the four basic categories
					of project consistency, it may not be clear on initial review whether a project
					is consistent with a particular applicable development regulation, or in its
					absence, the comprehensive plan. The following criteria, in the form of
					questions, are intended to assist cities/counties, applicants, and reviewers in
					analyzing for consistency.
(a)
Type of
					land use:
Is the project's proposed land use within the range of
					allowable uses identified for this site in the comprehensive plan/development
					regulation? This would include uses that may be allowed under certain
					circumstances if they satisfy approval criteria, for example, planned unit
					developments, conditional uses, or special uses.
(b)
Level of development:
Is
					the project's proposed land use within the range of densities, including
					dwelling units per acre or other measures of intensity, as defined in the
					comprehensive plan/development regulations? Other measures of intensity may
					include, but are not limited to, such measures as square footage of
					nonresidential development, number of employees, or floor area ratio.
(c)
Infrastructure:
Are the
					system-wide public facilities and services necessary to serve the development
					available? To make this decision, the local jurisdiction should ask:
(i) Is the system-wide infrastructure
					sufficient to serve the development? (If yes, no need to ask the next
					question.)
(ii) Have any system
					improvements needed for the proposed development and site:
(A) Been identified as necessary to support
					development in the comprehensive plan; and
(B) Had provision for funding in the
					comprehensive plan (e.g., capital facilities plan, utilities element,
					transportation improvement plan)? Alternatively, can the applicant demonstrate
					capacity, e.g., through a certificate of concurrency process? (If yes, no need
					to ask the next question.)
(iii) Will the proposed project use more
					capacity than the usage or assumptions on which the capital facilities plan,
					utilities element, or transportation improvement plan were based, or will the
					project cause current service levels to fall below level of service standards
					identified in the comprehensive plan? (If yes, does the applicant want to pay
					for the improvements or allow the GMA county/city to docket the issue for
					future plan amendment?)
(d)
Characteristics of
					development:
Does the proposed project:
(i) Meet or fall within the range of
					numerical standards that apply? (Examples of numerical standards may include,
					but are not limited to, number of dwelling units per acre, floor area ratio,
					building setbacks, building height, lot size, lot coverage, minimum width and
					depth for new lots, parking requirements, and density/intensity bonuses or
					incentives. In applying some of these standards, some overlap may occur with
					the analysis for level of development, i.e., units per acre and floor area
					ratio.)
(ii) Promote or not
					substantially conflict with narrative standards that apply? (Examples of
					narrative standards include performance standards, engineering or design
					criteria, methods for determining compliance such as monitoring or contingency
					plans, and mandatory policies or criteria.) Analysis of consistency with
					narrative standards may be contingent upon preparation, completion, and
					approval of required studies, plans, determinations, or monitoring (e.g.,
					delineation of critical areas, mitigation plans, etc.).
(e) For purposes of this section,
					"system-wide" infrastructure means those public services or facilities that may
					be needed to serve a geographic area greater than the specific site on which
					the project is located. For example, sewer systems, water systems, or
					transportation systems that serve a geographic area beyond the project site.
					Public services or facilities that are not system-wide and may be needed on or
					near a proposed project (such as drainage facilities, utility connections or
					transportation improvements to primarily serve the project) should be addressed
					through analysis of the characteristics of development.