DDES legislative news: Legislation for public review and comment

In September, DDES intends to forward a proposed ordinance on school impact fees to the Metropolitan King County Council for consideration and adoption.

The purpose of this proposed ordinance is to adopt school impact fees to be collected from all nonexempt new residential development in the unincorporated portions of the Tahoma, Federal Way, Riverview, Issaquah, Snoqualmie Valley, Lake Washington, Kent, Northshore, Enumclaw, Fife, Auburn and Renton school districts.

All collected fees and earned interest are distributed to the respective school districts for expenditure on capital facilities projects, which are necessary to accommodate residential growth within the districts.

Notice of Intent to Amend  Summary  Draft Ordinance

DDES has conducted stakeholder review of the draft proposed ordinance. Further comments may be sent, no later than Friday, August 12, 2011, 4:00 p.m., to
Elizabeth Lee
Department of Development and Environmental Services
900 Oakesdale Avenue SW
Renton, WA 98057-5212

E-mail: elizabeth.lee@kingcounty.gov
Telephone: 206-205-1441.

For more information about DDES, visit our Web site at www.kingcounty.gov/permits.

For DDES' e-mail news service subscription information, visit www.kingcounty.gov/property/permits/publications/subscribe.aspx.hi

Building and Land Use Development Regulations

King County Land Use and Building Regulations govern the development and use of land and the construction of buildings in unincorporated King County. These regulations fall into a few broad categories: building and fire codes, land segregation (subdivisions, short subdivisions, binding site plans, and boundary line adjustments), permitting and zoning, clearing and grading, and environmental protections (critical areas and shorelines).

The Department of Development and Environmental Services (DDES) is considering a package of amendments to these regulations and is taking public comment on the proposals through Friday, June 10. After reviewing public comments, DDES will make a recommendation to the King County Executive who will then decide whether to forward the recommendations to the King County Council for its review. The King County Council will hold public meetings and take comment on any recommendations before it takes action.

Plain Language Summary –  Adobe Acrobat (PDF), MS Word (DOC)
Table of Proposed Changes – Adobe Acrobat (PDF), MS Word (DOC)
Proposed Ordinance – Adobe Acrobat (PDF), MS Word (DOC)

Comments may be submitted in writing not later than 5 pm, Friday, June 10 to:

Harry Reinert
King County Department of Development and Environmental Services
900 Oakesdale Ave SW
Renton, WA 98507

Email: harry.reinert@kingcounty.gov

For additional information, contact Harry Reinert at the above address or by telephone at 206.296.7132.

Coastal Flood Hazard Regulations and Maps

The coastline of unincorporated King County on Vashon-Maury Island was last mapped for flood hazards nearly 35 years ago. New coastal high hazard area flood study and maps are being prepared that will remap the Vashon-Maury Island coastline to take into account storm-induced velocity wave action and establish 100-year flood elevations. The flood study, including estimates of flood elevations and areas of inundation, are displayed online at http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/flooding/maps.aspx.

King County currently has flood regulations for the Vashon-Maury Island coastline, but those regulations are more appropriate for river floodplains, not coastal floodplains. King County is drafting new flood regulations that are appropriate for coastal flooding. These regulations are required to be adopted to implement the new coastal high hazard area study and maps.

Notice of Intent to Amend    Summary    Draft Ordinance

King County is hosting a public meeting on the evening of April 28 from 6:00 to 8:00 at the Vashon High School Commons to present the new coastal flood hazard study and draft flood maps for the marine shoreline. The public will also have an opportunity to comment on the proposed coastal flood regulations at that meeting.

Notice of Determination of Nonsignificance Under State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)

King County Water and Land Resources Division has issued a determination of non-significance (DNS) under the State Environmental Policy Act Rules (Chapter 197-11 WAC) for the following project: an ordinance relating to coastal high hazard areas regulations for consistency with the National Flood Insurance Program.

After review of a completed environmental checklist and other information on file with the agency, the Water and Land Resources Division has determined this proposal will not have a probable significant adverse impact on the environment. Copies of the DNS and Environmental Checklist are available by calling (206) 296-8001 or at the following links:

DNS    Environmental Check List

Comments on the proposed coastal flood regulations are due by Friday, May 13, 2011 and may be sent to:
Priscilla Kaufmann, CFM, Project/Program Manager
Department of Natural Resources and Parks
201 South Jackson Street, Suite 600
Seattle, WA 98104-3855

Email: Priscilla.kaufmann@kingcounty.gov
Telephone: 206-205-0598
Fax: 206-205-5134

For more information about DDES, visit our Web site at www.kingcounty.gov/permits.

For DDES' e-mail news service subscription information, visit www.kingcounty.gov/property/permits/publications/subscribe.aspx