Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Short Subdivision topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City seeks to expand short‑subdivision threshold from four to nine lots; public hearing set
Summary
Planning staff proposed raising Longview’s short‑subdivision lot threshold to nine lots to encourage small infill plats, clarify shared‑driveway and stormwater responsibilities, remove mylar requirements and reduce time and cost for small land divisions; the commission set a public hearing for the next meeting.
Longview City planning staff presented proposed updates to the city’s short‑subdivision rules that would raise the maximum scope for short plats from four lots to nine lots, clarify submittal and infrastructure requirements, and require that public and private upgrades (including shared driveways) be completed before final plat recordation.
Staff said the change relies on statutory flexibility in RCW 58.17.040 and mirrors practice in several similarly sized Washington cities. The goal, staff said, is to make infill and smaller subdivision projects (five to nine lots) financially and procedurally feasible by clarifying when shared‑driveway construction, stormwater facilities and other required upgrades must be installed so individual homeowners are not left responsible for unbuilt improvements after platting.
Other changes proposed in the draft include removing mylar map requirements (staff described mylars as expensive and difficult to correct), updating subdivision code references where needed, and tightening submittal requirements to reduce redundant paper submissions while moving toward digital intake.
Staff told the commission the shared‑driveway ordinance is flexible but has produced edge cases (for example where three lots fall between two thresholds) and that clarifying the rules up front will reduce developer and homeowner uncertainty. Staff also said they plan to require that public and private improvements be completed prior to final plat recording so early builders are not forced to construct shared driveways that should have been the developer’s responsibility.
Commissioners supported setting a public hearing and a motion was approved to set a hearing at the commission’s next meeting; staff said they would commence SEPA review and required legal review in advance of the hearing. Staff estimated a hearing could be scheduled in April or May and noted the city had the option to begin SEPA now or after the planning commission hearing depending on counsel guidance.
No interim regulation was adopted for this change; staff said there is interest in moving quickly so projects have the option to proceed during the coming development season.
Action: commission voted to set a public hearing on the short‑subdivision update for the next regular meeting.
