04-19-2022 Title 182021 Title 18 Proposed Code Amendments
City Council
19 April 2022
CITY OF
Federal Way
Policy Question:
Should the City Council amend Title 18 (Subdivisions) relating to Final
Plat approvals and Plat Alterations?
CITY OF
Federal Way
Schedule
May 2022:
CITY OF
Federal Way
Council adoption
Planning Commission Recommendation:
Following a Public Hearing and deliberations:
Approval of the proposed code amendments as
presented.
CITY OF
Federal Way
1. Final Plat approva
Current Code: Final Plats are approved by the City Council
Proposal: Final Plats are approved by the CD Director
Purpose for Proposed Code Amendment: In March 2017, the legislature passed SB
5674. The legislation allows cities, towns, and counties to delegate final plat approval
to "...an established planning commission or agency, or to such other administrative
personnel...". The approval of a final plat is a ministerial (of, relating to, or being a
mandatory act or duty admitting of no personal discretion or judgment in its
performance) task ensuring the final plat is in compliance with the approved
preliminary plat; its approval conditions; and, that all required improvements have
been constructed or guaranteed. This proposed amendment affects administrative
procedures and is not intended to change the substance of the current regulations. This
proposed process change would improve the processing time for final plats
significantly.
Snohomish and Spokane counties and the cities of Auburn, Renton, Kent, Tukwila,
Kirkland and Yakima have all made similar code changes.
CITY OF
Federal Way
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CITY OF
Federal Way
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3. Plat alterations
Current Code: Plat alterations are approved by City Council
Proposal: Plat alterations approved by Hearing Examiner
Purpose for Proposed Code Amendment: A plat alteration is processed when a
property owner desires to "alter" an approved subdivision after the final plat is
approved and recorded. Given a plat alteration is a revision to the preliminary plat; the
decision should be made by the decision -maker for preliminary plats, the hearing
examiner. This proposed amendment is not intended to change the substance of the
current regulations. This proposed amendment would transfer that decision to the
City's Hearing Examiner improving the processing time for these types of requests.
The cities of Kent, Auburn, and Kirkland send their plat alterations to the Hearing
Examiner for decision. The cities of Bellevue and Snoqualmie allow the director to be
the decision maker.
CITY OF
Federal Way
Options Considered:
1. Adopt the proposed ordinance.
2. Do not adopt the proposed ordinance and provide direction to
staff.
Questions?
CITY OF
Federal Way