19C.10.070 Time Frame for Adoption of Comprehensive Plan Amendments.
A. All initiated Comprehensive Plan amendments, except Budgetary Capital Facilities amendments, amendments associated with a community plan update, and certain agriculture amendments described in subsection D of this Section, shall be considered by the Council concurrently and no more frequently than once every two years, unless an emergency exists.
1. Pierce County's two-year review cycle shall be completed in odd numbered years.
2. Applications for Comprehensive Plan amendments shall be accepted by the Council between July 1 and July 31 during the even numbered year. During the remainder of the review cycle, suggested Plan amendments shall be provided to the Planning and Public Works Department, entered on the Docket, and treated as a suggested amendment pursuant to PCC 19C.10.045.
3. Applications from the County Executive and the cities and towns shall be provided to the Council prior to July 31 during the even numbered years.
4. The Council shall review all accepted and complete applications received for Council initiation and conduct at least one public hearing to determine which applications to initiate. Initiation shall be accomplished through an action of the Council by September 30 during the even numbered years. Screening of applications by the Council will include review of the applications against the requirements in this Chapter and locational criteria and policies in the Comprehensive Plan.
5. The Planning and Public Works Department shall conduct its review, evaluation and report on initiated Comprehensive Plan amendments prior to and concurrently with the Planning Commission review. However, all departmental reporting and evaluation on initiated Comprehensive Plan amendments, including any necessary environmental review, shall be completed prior to the Commission taking action on recommendations regarding initiated Comprehensive Plan amendments.
6. The Planning Commission shall consider all initiated Comprehensive Plan amendments, except Budgetary Capital Facilities amendments, concurrently so that the cumulative effect of the various proposals can be ascertained. The Commission shall complete its review, evaluation and recommendation on initiated Comprehensive Plan amendments by February 15 of the odd numbered years.
B. Budgetary Capital Facilities amendments may be considered more frequently than once per year as provided by RCW 36.70A.130(2)(a)(iv), and such amendments shall be evaluated in accordance with PCC 19C.10.060. Furthermore, receipt of funds from non-County revenues for projects not identified in the County's Capital Facilities Element, but identified in other long-term planning documents, may be spent or encumbered, as long as the Capital Facilities Element is amended accordingly during the next available review process.
C. Urban Growth Area amendments initiated by cities and towns incorporated after initial adoption of the County's Comprehensive Plan, November 29, 1994, may be reviewed on an annual cycle according to the procedures set forth in PCC 19C.10.070 A. for the first two years after incorporation, if the city or town submits a complete application by July 1 of an even numbered year.
D. The following agriculture related amendments may be reviewed on an annual cycle according to the procedures set forth in PCC 19C.10.070 A. and the initiation requirements set forth in PCC 19C.10.050:
1. Technical corrections to resolve Agricultural Resource Lands mapping errors;
2. Amendments which result in a net increase in the acreage of Agricultural Resource Lands and include a conservation easement component which protects such lands in perpetuity; and
3. Amendments proposing redesignation of lands from Rural 10 to Rural Farm.
E. The time frames set forth in this Section may not apply to the following amendments: adoption or amendment of the Shoreline Master Program, the initial adoption or subsequent update of a community plan for an area, or adoption of amendments to resolve an appeal of the Comprehensive Plan with the Central Puget Sound Growth Management Hearings Board or with the court.