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Council hears package to reorganize permit procedures after state law changes (SB 5290)
Summary
Staff outlined a multi-chapter code clean-up driven by Senate Bill 5290 (2023): consolidating permit procedures into a single chapter, repealing duplicative sections, and clarifying site-development-plan use. Planning commission hearing scheduled for June 22 and council action planned July 2.
Staff presented a multi-part code-reorganization package intended to align Mountlake Terrace's permitting procedures with changes in state law (Senate Bill 5290, 2023) and to consolidate confusing or duplicative provisions.
"This one made some pretty significant changes to the local project review act and the way that local governments process permits," the presenter said, describing a plan to put most permitting procedures into chapter 18.05, move comprehensive-plan adoption and amendment process language to chapter 18.10, and repeal duplicative chapters such as 18.25 and 19.110. Staff said the package also clarifies the site-development-plan permit type and aims to make the permit process simpler and more transparent.
The planning commission will hold a public hearing on June 22 on some sections, and staff proposed returning two ordinances to council for adoption on July 2. Council members asked whether the confusion originated at the state level or from prior local changes; staff said the combination of state law changes and accrued local edits over time had produced contradictions and that a more holistic rewrite will reduce future confusion.
Staff also noted an operational change: the public permit counter will be closed on Fridays to allow staff time to process backlogged plan reviews; submissions will remain possible through the city's online portal. Council did not take formal action at the work session.
