27.08.140 Procedure.
Applications for open space land current use assessments shall be evaluated in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 84.34 RCW and this chapter. Applications pending at the time of the adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be considered pursuant to the terms and conditions of the ordinance codified in this chapter.
(1) Application forms and related materials shall be provided by, and returned to, the Assessor’s office. Applications shall be assessed for completeness and eligibility jointly by the Assessor’s office and the Department of Community Development prior to review by the Clallam County Planning Commission.
(2) The processing schedule that follows intends to (i) provide that applications will be approved or denied within six months following the date the application is deemed complete; and (ii) allow sufficient time for County staff to evaluate the applications.
Applications will be accepted during either of two submittal periods as follows:
(a) Applications received during the period January 1st through April 30th shall be reviewed for eligibility during the period May 1st through June 30th. Applications shall be deemed complete by July 1st of each year, and shall be approved or denied by the County legislative authority by December 31st.
(b) Applications received during the period July 1st through October 31st shall be reviewed for eligibility during the period November 1st through December 31st. Applications shall be deemed complete by December 31st of each year, and shall be approved or denied by the County legislative authority by July 1st of the following year.
Applicants whose submittal is deemed incomplete or ineligible shall be notified as soon as reasonably possible in order to identify additional information required to make the application complete, or to give the applicant an opportunity to withdraw the application.
(3) The Planning Commission shall act upon applications after a public hearing. Notice of the hearing shall have been given by publishing a summary of the open space applications in a newspaper of general circulation in the area at least 15 days prior to the open record hearing before the Commission. Notification shall also be forwarded to each applicant.
(4) Following the public hearing the Planning Commission shall make a recommendation on each application to the Board of Commissioners. Such recommendations shall be forwarded to the Board following a 14-day appeal period.
Applications involving properties within incorporated portions of Clallam County will require the approval of the appropriate jurisdiction and will be forwarded to the appropriate jurisdiction for review.
(5) Upon receipt of the Planning Commission recommendations, the Board shall schedule a date for decision on the applications. The date of decision shall be within 30 calendar days from the date of receipt of the Planning Commission recommendations. The Board shall approve or deny the application after reviewing comments taken at the Planning Commission public hearing.
(6) If the Board of Commissioners approves the application, an open space land agreement between the County and the landowner(s) shall be signed. Said agreement may contain conditions of approval necessary to assure that the classification of open space land furthers the purposes of the Open Space Act, Chapter 84.34 RCW. If the Board of Commissioners denies the application, in whole or in part, the applicant has the right to appeal only to the Clallam County Superior Court, as specified by WAC 458-30-250(4)(b).