HomeMy WebLinkAbout*Other - Development ServicesATTACHMENT "A"
GRANT COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENTS
2021 FINDINGS OF FACT
Section I — General Findings
1.1 Grant County has experienced and will continue to experience population growth and
accompanying development, resulting in competing demands for public facilities,
services and land uses, and is required to prepare and adopt amendments to the
Comprehensive Plan and land use regulations pursuant to the Growth Management
Act.
1.2 Growth Management requires that land be managed properly and wisely. Otherwise
meeting the demands of a rapidly growing county population is likely to cause urban
and suburban sprawl, commercial strip development, development at inappropriate
locations and densities, damage to environmentally sensitive areas, and the loss of
natural resource lands, rural character, open space, and critical areas. Also, this pattern
of development is likely to create demands for urban services and utilities that are
insufficient to support their extension in a cost-effective manner.
1.3 The 2021 Comprehensive Plan amendment process responds to the environmental
concerns raised during the public hearing process, whole protecting property owners
from unconstitutional takings and substantive due process violations.
1.4 RCW 36.70A.020 sets for a list of 13 goals "to guide the development and adoption
of comprehensive plans and development regulations." In the amendment public
hearing process, and these findings of fact, the Planning Commission and Board of
County Commissioners considered the 13 Growth Management Goals, weighed them
as they apply to the subject matter of these findings, and has attempted to achieve a
reasoned balance among them.
Section 2 - Public Participation
2.1 Petitions received by the Planning Department were reviewed by the Board of County
Commissioners, and the Board directed the Planning Department to proceed with
further review of the petitions and to prepare environmental documentation consistent
with the requirements of RCW 43.21 C and Grant County Code Chapter 24.04 (SEPA).
2.2 In accordance with Grant County Code Chapter 25.12 — Legislative Actions, the
Planning Commission held public hearings on June 23, 2021 at which time testimony
was taken from interested agencies, organizations, and individual citizens, regarding
the proposed amendments and zone changes.
Attachment "A"
Grant County Comprehensive Plan
Amendment 2021
General Findings of Fact
2.3 Board of County Commissioners and Planning Commission meetings, hearings, and
study sessions requiring "legal notice" were advertised in the local paper of record
pursuant to the requirements of RCW 36.70 and the Grant County Unified
Development Code. Copies of the proposed amendment applications were broadly
disseminated for public and agency review at no charge. All meetings and hearings to
which the public was invited were conducted in an open forum. At hearings, all persons
desiring to speak were given an opportunity to do so. Public testimony and written
correspondence were given full consideration as part of the amendment process.
2.4 The existing enhanced public participation policies within Grant County ensure that the
public had an opportunity to provide meaningful comments on the proposed
amendments.
2.5 The appeal mechanisms contained within Grant County ordinances provide sufficient
due process to allow interested parties an opportunity to respond at a meaningful time
and in a meaningful manner.
Section 3 — Criteria for Amendment Approval
3.1 A petition for a site-specific land use redesignation was reviewed for conformance
with pertinent provisions of the Grant County Comprehensive Plan and Unified
Development Code.
3.2 In reviewing the amendments, the Planning Commission and Board of County
Commissioners considered testimony provided at public hearings and
recommendations provided by staff and interested or affected agencies with
jurisdiction. The Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners
approved, approved with conditions, or rejected an application for a change of
designation or density based on the following criteria:
(a) The change would benefit the public health, safety, and/or welfare;
(b) The change is warranted because of changed circumstances or because of a need
for additional property in the proposed land -use designation.
(c) The change is consistent with the criteria for land use designations specified in the
Comprehensive Plan.
(d) The change will not be detrimental to uses or property in the immediate vicinity
of the subject property.
(e) The change has merit and value for the community as a whole
(� The change, if granted, will not result in an enclave of property owners enjoying
greater privileges and opportunities than those enjoyed by other property owners
in the vicinity where there is not substantive difference in the properties
themselves with different designations.
(g) The benefits of the change will outweigh any significant adverse impacts of the
change
(h) The change is consistent with the purpose and intent of the Comprehensive Plan
and the requirement s of Grant County Code Titles 22, 23, 24, and 25; and
Attachment "A"
Grant County Comprehensive Plan
Amendment 2021
General Findings of Fact
(i) The change complies with all other applicable criteria and standards of GCC
Chapter 25.12
Section 4 —Board of County Commissioners Final Recommendations
And/or Actions
4.1 Recorded motions by the Board of County Commissioners for each proposed
comprehensive plan amendment and Findings of Fact are listed in Attachment "B"
4.2 Recorded motions by the Board of County Commissioners for each proposed zone
change and Findings of Fact are listed in Attachment "B"
4.3 Supporting Findings of Fact for each decision were identified under Section 3 as
detailed above, unless otherwise noted in the record of the Board of County
Commissioners.
4.4 Detailed applications along with supporting documentation and staff reports are made
a part of this recommendation.
Attachment "A"
Grant County Comprehensive Plan
Amendment 2021
General Findings of Fact