Planning commission recommends code changes to align permit timeframes with state rules, preserves longer review for shoreline and environmental projects

At its March 18, 2026 meeting the North Bend Planning Commission voted to recommend that City Council adopt amendments to North Bend Municipal Code 20.19.25 to align local permitting time frames with recent changes in state law.

Scott, a city staff member who presented the proposal, told the commission the state shortened some permit deadlines to speed housing and development approvals but also lengthened deadlines where public process or environmental review make short turnarounds unrealistic. “So what the state has done is shorten the time frame from 120 days to 65 days for projects that do not require any kind of public notice,” Scott said, and added the city’s draft code mirrors the state structure: 65 days for permits that do not require public notice, 100 days for projects that require notice but not a public hearing, and 170 days for projects that require both notice and a public hearing.

Staff proposed that shoreline permits, critical‑areas reviews and projects requiring a State Environmental Policy Act environmental impact statement (EIS) be covered by the longer, 170‑day timeframe because those reviews typically involve tribal and state agency comment and additional back‑and‑forth between applicants and reviewers.

Commissioners asked procedural questions before the commission voted. One commissioner sought clarity on revisions to the ex parte communications section; Scott said the edit removes an overly specific list of city bodies so the rule covers all city decision‑making entities without inadvertently omitting anyone (for example, the hearing examiner). Commissioners also asked how notice of decision will be delivered to parties of record; staff said decisions may be provided by mail, email or in person and that parties of record will receive broader distribution once a decision is issued. The commission confirmed the code measures deadlines in calendar days, not business days.

Following that discussion the commission opened the public hearing at 06:48; there were no public speakers and the hearing was closed. A commissioner moved to recommend approval with changes; another commissioner seconded. The motion carried and the commission formally recommended the amendments to City Council.

The amendments are intended to give applicants clearer expectations about processing time while preserving additional time where public hearings, shoreline rules or state environmental review make quick turnarounds impractical. The recommendation now goes to the City Council for consideration; council action and any additional edits were not recorded in this meeting.

Closing note: staff also said local jurisdictions retain limited authority to extend the statutory time frames in justified circumstances and described extension arrangements as generally handled through written communication between staff and applicants.