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Planning staff outlines code audit to meet clear-and-objective standards; public hearings scheduled
Summary
Community development director Gail Henriksen briefed commissioners on a code audit required by House Bill 3197 to adopt clear and objective housing standards; staff reduced approval procedure types from seven to four, incorporated mass timber and cottage cluster changes, and scheduled planning commission and board hearings in March and April.
Gail Henriksen, community development director, updated commissioners on the county’s code audit to meet the state requirement to adopt clear and objective standards for housing.
Henriksen said the work responds to legislation (House Bill 3197) that mandates counties adopt clear and objective standards and that the county must complete the revisions by July 1 (as stated during the meeting). Staff began work in December 2023, has produced two drafts and has reviewed about 208 pages of proposed changes. The work focuses on housing‑related code, including clarifying definitions, standardizing requirements across zones, and removing ambiguous language.
Key procedural changes Henriksen highlighted include reducing approval procedure types from seven to four (type 1 development permits, type 2 conditional use without public hearing, type 3 public hearing uses, and type 4 legislative amendments). Staff proposed easier processes for limited amendments (for example, accessory structures following an approved conditional use) and adjustments intended to align review effort with fees.
Henriksen said the revisions incorporate state audit recommendations and recent housing amendments: updates to support mass timber use in housing construction, adding cottage clusters and residential zones, and revising language for manufactured dwellings and dwelling parks. She also noted the county will need additional code work later for commercial/industrial development, telecommunications tower rules, and farm and forest zone updates following recent rulemaking.
Henriksen said the planning commission will hold a first public hearing on March 11, and the board of commissioners has scheduled two public hearings on March 26 and April 9. She warned commissioners that the packet will be large and asked for board review and feedback as the hearings approach.
Commissioners raised related issues: Commissioner Thompson flagged water‑district coordination and potential implications for Falcon Cove Beach Water District; Commissioner Banks asked whether Falcon Cove would be part of a possible Arch Cape incorporation boundary; Henriksen confirmed boundaries and special districts are among questions the feasibility work will address.
Ending: Staff will proceed with the code audit schedule, present the planning commission hearing on March 11, and return to the board for hearings on March 26 and April 9; commissioners asked staff to consider water district integrations and to continue public outreach.
