17.149.050 Commenting.
(1) Adoption by Reference. This section contains rules for consulting, commenting, and responding on all environmental documents under SEPA, including rules for public notice and hearings. The city adopts the following sections by reference, as supplemented in this section:
WAC | |
|---|---|
Purpose of this part. | |
Inviting comment. | |
Availability and cost of environmental documents. | |
SEPA register. | |
Public hearings and meetings. | |
Effect of no comment. | |
Specificity of comments. | |
FEIS response to comments. | |
Consulted agency costs to assist lead agency. | |
(2) Public Notice.
(a) Whenever the city issues a DNS under WAC 197-11-340(2) or a DS under WAC 197-11-360(3), the city shall give public notice as follows:
(i) If public notice is required for a nonexempt license, the notice shall state whether a DS or DNS has been issued and when comments are due.
(ii) If no public notice is required for the permit or approval, the city shall give notice of the DNS or DS by notifying the news media as specified by Chapter 1.08 SMC, posting the property with at least one notice board visible from a public right-of-way, and by mailing the notice to all property owners within 300 feet of the property being developed. Citywide, nonproject actions do not require mailing to property owners or posting of a site.
(iii) Whenever the city issues a DS under WAC 197-11-360(3), the city shall state the scoping procedure for the proposal in the DS as required in WAC 197-11-408 and in the public notice.
(iv) If a SEPA document is issued concurrently with the notice of application, the public notice requirements for the notice of application will suffice to meet the SEPA public notice requirements.
(v) If a DNS is issued using the optional DNS process, the public notice requirements for the notice of application as supplemented by the requirements in WAC 197-11-455(5) or a SEIS under WAC 197-11-620.
(b) Whenever the city issues a DEIS under WAC 197-11-455(5) or a SEIS under WAC 197-11-620, notice of the availability of those documents shall be given by:
(i) Indicating the availability of the DEIS in any public notice required for a nonexempt license; and (select at least one of the following)
(ii) Posting the property, for site-specific proposals; and/or
(iii) Publishing notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the city; and/or
(iv) Notifying public or private groups which have expressed interest in a certain proposal or in the type of proposal being considered; and/or
(v) Notifying the news media; and/or
(vi) Placing notices in appropriate regional, neighborhood, ethnic, or trade journals; and/or
(vii) Publishing notice in agency newsletters and/or sending notice to agency mailing lists (general lists or specific lists for proposals or subject areas).
(c) Whenever possible, the city shall integrate the public notice required under this section with existing notice procedures for the city’s nonexempt permit(s) or approval(s) required for the proposal.
(d) The city may require an applicant to complete the public notice requirements for the applicant’s proposal at his or her expense.
(3) Designation of Official to Perform Consulted Agency Responsibilities for the City.
(a) The city planning director shall be responsible for preparation of written comments for the city in response to a consultation request prior to a threshold determination, participation in scoping, and reviewing DEIS.
(b) This person shall be responsible for the city’s compliance with WAC 197-11-550 whenever the city is a consulted agency and is authorized to develop operating procedures that will ensure that responses to consultation requests are prepared in a timely fashion and include data from all appropriate departments of the city. (Ord. 1110 § 3, 2002; Ord. 1084 § 3, 2000; Ord. 1051, 1998).