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The Growth Management Act requires that urban growth areas be reviewed at least once every ten (10) years. The County-wide Planning Policies call for a review of population growth and the impact on urban growth areas once every five (5) years. In setting urban growth areas for Clallam County, a forecast of twenty (20) year urban land needs was completed. There is a need to provide stability to where urban growth and services will occur, and supply of land should be considered in any future amendments. This warrants that specific procedures and criteria be adopted to guide urban growth area amendments.

It is the general policy of this section that urban growth area boundary amendments be discouraged except for the required ten (10) year review. Urban growth area amendments should provide overwhelming evidence that there is a demonstrated need to change the designations. As such, the following procedures and criteria must be met. In those circumstances where a landowner might wish to remove land from an urban growth area, a liberal application of the criteria should be allowed due to the abundance of urban designated land.

(1) The following procedures shall be followed in review of urban growth area amendment applications:

(a) The amendment shall be considered an amendment of the Comprehensive Plan. The procedures for public notice, timing of applications and public hearings outlined in Chapter 31.08 CCC shall be followed.

(b) The County shall consult with the appropriate city concerning the Comprehensive Plan changes that may be needed to implement the urban growth area boundary amendment.

(c) Amendment applications can be made by Clallam County or a city with a planning area that includes or is contiguous to the property; or the owners of the property included in the application or a group of more than 50 percent of the property owners who own more than 50 percent of the land area in each area included in the application.

(2) Applications for amendment of urban growth area boundaries, or the establishment of new urban growth areas, shall meet the following criteria:

(a) The applicant shall demonstrate that there is a need to accommodate the 20-year population and employment growth of that area. The following information should be supplied:

(i) Revised 20-year population and/or employment forecast demonstrating increased growth due to births, deaths and/or migration, or employment opportunities.

(ii) Information pertaining to specific historical growth and employment patterns since the last population or employment forecast provided by the County.

(b) A demonstrated need for additional land to accommodate the population and/or employment growth. The following information should be supplied:

(i) An inventory of net developable land within the existing urban growth boundary and proposed urban growth boundary.

(ii) Market availability, ownership and parcelization of net developable land within the existing urban growth boundary and proposed urban growth boundary.

(c) The amendment provides for a net improvement in the efficiency of public facilities and services, including but not limited to, water, sewage, transportation, drainage, parks and recreation.

(d) The amendment is compatible with nearby resource land (agricultural, forestry or mining) uses.

(e) The amendment meets the requirements in CCC 31.02.230 for the designation of urban growth areas.