Opinion ID: 2611945
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Planning Enabling Act

Text: The Planning Enabling Act, RCW 36.70, was enacted to provide the authority for, and the procedures to be followed in, guiding and regulating the physical development of a county ... through correlating both public and private projects and coordinating their execution with respect to ... assuring the highest standards of environment for living, ... and conserving the highest degree of public health, safety, morals and welfare. [33] The Act provides for creation of departments, commissions and planning agencies, and further describes the procedural functions of each. [34] The Planning Enabling Act and the Growth Management Act are two related statutes which should be `... read together to determine legislative purpose to achieve a harmonious total statutory scheme ... which maintains the integrity of the respective statutes.' [35] Both statutes can be read consistently and harmoniously to carry out their intended legislative purpose. The Whatcom County Temporary Critical Areas Ordinance, ordinance 92-032, having been enacted pursuant to legislative mandate under the Growth Management Act, RCW 36.70A, is not subject to referendum.