What is the legal process for amending or revising local land use regulations?
In Washington, the legal process for amending or revising local land use regulations begins with the local governmental entity that has authority over land use in the area of interest. This entity will typically be a county, city, or town council. To initiate an amendment or revision to a land use regulation, the local governmental entity must pass a resolution that includes an official description of the proposed change, a timeline for the local process, and a date for public hearings. The local governmental entity must then publish a notice of the proposed change in a local newspaper, in addition to posting the notice in a conspicuous place near the affected property. A public hearing is also held to provide an opportunity for members of the public to provide comment on the proposed change. The local governmental entity will then review and consider all public comments before passing another resolution that either approves or denies the proposed change. If approved, the local governmental entity will update the ordinance as needed and issue a revised version. If denied, the local governmental entity must explain why the proposed change was not approved. Once the local governmental entity has approved a change, it must be submitted to the state for review and approval. The state will review the change and may require further revisions or changes before it is approved. Once approved, the change is finalized and becomes part of the local land use regulations.
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