1. Create procedures, consistent with the requirements of RCW 36.70A.130, 36.70A.140, and 36.70A.470, for processing proposals to amend the City’s Comprehensive Plan, Future Land Use Map, and Land Use Development Code, and to rezone property;

2. Provide a process for the public and interested parties to propose amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and to the Land Use Development Code; and

3. Provide the public and interested parties with opportunities to participate in the amendment and rezone process.

1. The City’s Comprehensive Plan shall be subject to continuing evaluation and review by the City. Any amendment or revision to the Comprehensive Plan shall conform to Chapter 36.70A RCW.

2. Initiation of Amendments.

3. The Planning Director shall establish an annual docketing process whereby any interested person, the Planning Commission, City staff, City Council, City’s designated Hearing Examiner and staff of other agencies may submit applications to amend the City’s Comprehensive Plan. That process shall include, but not be limited to, an:

4. After the application deadline, the Planning Director shall compile a preliminary docket consisting of a listing of all docket applications that were determined to include all of the required submittal items. The preliminary docket shall include a:

5. The City Council, at an annual docket public hearing held in October or November, shall consider all of the proposals on the preliminary docket and decide which, if any, shall be placed on the final docket. Criteria the City Council may use in considering the application may include, but are not limited to, whether the proposal is consistent with their vision for the City and whether there are adequate staff resources to properly evaluate and process the proposal. Decisions by the City Council on which items to place on the final docket are legislative and discretionary. If no applications are received the City Council shall not hold an annual docket public hearing and a final docket will not be approved for that year.

6. The Planning Director shall research and analyze all items placed on the final docket by the City Council. The Planning Director shall process each item as a Comprehensive Plan or Future Land Use Map amendment to be brought to the City Council, with a Planning Commission recommendation, for their consideration during an annual Comprehensive Plan amendment public hearing. All final docket items shall be processed or reported on within one calendar year of when the item was placed on the final docket. This time limit may be extended with City Council approval.

7. Only amendment proposals placed on the final docket may be forwarded to the Planning Commission for consideration. All amendment proposals to be considered in a calendar year shall be considered concurrently so the cumulative effect of the various proposals can be ascertained. However, pursuant to RCW 36.70A.130(2)(a)(i) through (2)(a)(v), certain amendments to the Comprehensive Plan or Future Land Use Map that are not on the final docket may be forwarded to the Planning Commission – at any time during the year and independent of other amendments – even if it means amending the Comprehensive Plan more than once a year.

8. It is the responsibility of the Planning Director to review and oversee the preparation of all materials to express, explain, or depict the various aspects or elements of the text or map amendments including the documentation required by the State Environmental Policy Act. The Planning Director may require applicants to provide materials and studies as deemed necessary to understand the proposal and its implications.

9. The Planning Director may request other City boards or agencies or other governmental entities to provide comments and recommendations on Comprehensive Plan amendments. In proposing any changes to its Comprehensive Plan, the City shall notify the Department of Commerce of its intent to adopt such amendments at least 60 days prior to final adoption. The City shall transmit a complete and accurate copy of approved amendments to the Department of Commerce in accordance with state law.

10. Letters of support or objection to a proposed Comprehensive Plan amendment may be filed by any interested party. The letters must be filed by the date of the City Council public hearing unless an extension of time is granted.

11. The City may use any or all of the following techniques to provide for early and continuous public participation in the development and/or amendments of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Techniques not listed may also be used.

12. The Planning Commission shall consider proposed amendments placed on the final docket at a public hearing then make written findings of fact and conclusions and a recommendation to the City Council on each proposed amendment. The Commission shall make one of four decisions in considering amendments:

13. City Council Action.

14. Notice of Public Hearing. Notice of all public hearings shall be made in accordance with state and local laws.

15. Appeals of Decisions. All requests for review by a Growth Management Hearings Board shall be initiated by filing a petition in accordance with Chapter 36.70A, 43.21C or 90.58 RCW. Only parties of record may initiate an appeal of the City Council’s final decision.

1. Development Regulation Code amendments may be initiated by the City at any time.

2. Development Regulation Code amendments shall be initiated by citizens, the Planning Commission, or any interested party including applicants, hearing examiners, and staff of other agencies pursuant to the annual docketing procedure described in subsection (B)(2) of this section.

3. Proposed Development Regulation Code amendments shall only be forwarded to the Planning Commission for consideration if:

4. Processing of Development Regulation Amendments.

1. Applications for rezones shall be evaluated using the following guidelines:

2. The following procedures shall govern the consideration of a rezone application:

3. Zoning Map. If a rezone is approved by the City Council the Planning Director shall amend the Zoning Map, as provided for in SMC 14.30.030, to reflect the new zoning designation for the affected parcel(s). (Ord. 2352, 2018; Ord. 2443, 2022)

1. Perform a threshold determination regarding the proposal in accordance with Chapter 197-11 WAC Part Three;

2. If a determination of significance (DS) is issued, determine the scope of the environmental impact statement (EIS) and prepare a draft EIS;

3. Schedule a public hearing before the Planning Commission for a date that conforms to the following notice requirement; and

4. Publish between 15 and 30 days before the hearing a notice of hearing in the official newspaper (see Chapter 14.20 SMC); provided, that:

1. Is internally consistent with the Comprehensive Plan (for Comprehensive Plan amendments) or is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan (for Development Code amendments);

2. Is consistent with the Growth Management Act and the State Environmental Policy Act; and

3. Is in the interest of the public health, safety, and welfare of Snohomish residents.

1. The rezoned parcel(s) will not create any significant negative impacts on the existing land uses and zoning of the surrounding or nearby properties.

2. The rezone serves the general public health, safety and welfare.

3. The property is suitable for the purpose for which it is proposed to be zoned.

4. In the case of a downzone, the relative gain to the public in promoting the public health, safety, and welfare outweighs the hardship imposed on the individual property owner.

5. In the case of a downzone, the consequent restrictions do not preclude all reasonable economic use of that land unless the property owner agrees to the downzone. (Ord. 2338, 2017; Ord. 2443, 2022)