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Council continues land-use application expiration policy for further refinement
Summary
Council continued consideration of an ordinance and accompanying policy that would set expiration and extension procedures for land-use applications, asking staff to clarify timelines and whether multiple extensions are permitted.
The council continued an agenda item on proposed land-use application expiration rules and a staff-drafted notification policy intended to improve predictability for applicants and the planning department.
Staff described the proposed ordinance and policy: the ordinance would define a land-use application, set an initial 180-day application term, and allow a written request for a 90-day extension made before the original deadline. The draft policy would require staff to notify applicants 30 days and 7 days before an application expires using email, first-class mail and the city’s permitting portal. Staff said applicants must show valid reasons for delays, such as awaiting permits or environmental review, and that staff would review extension requests within 10 business days.
Councilmembers asked how many current applications would be affected (staff estimated about a dozen), whether multiple extensions would be allowed, and whether the ordinance and policy should be more objective to avoid legal disputes. Staff said the ordinance can allow multiple extensions on a case-by-case basis but that council direction favored clearer, consistent language; several councilmembers urged specifying multiple 90-day extensions in the policy or ordinance and tailoring timelines by application type (for example, longer windows for complex subdivisions).
After discussion, a motion was made and seconded to continue agenda item 3 without a date certain so staff can revise the ordinance and policy language and return with clearer timelines and a defined approach for multiple extensions. The motion passed by voice vote.
