RES 2007-20 RE-WRITE OF LAND USE REGULATIONSRESOLUTION NO. 2007-20
A RESOLUTION of the City of Bainbridge Island, Washington,
directing the Planning and Community Development to undertake
a comprehensive re -write of the city's land use regulations.
WHEREAS, the City Council is authorized to modify its municipal code in accordance
to Washington State Laws; and
WHEREAS, the City Council acknowledges the that current code contains land use
provisions that were adopted by the City of Winslow following its incorporation in 1947 and by
adopted by Kitsap County and incorporated into the municipal code following annexation by the
City of Winslow of the remainder of the island in 1991; and
WHEREAS, the City Council acknowledges inconsistencies and ambiguities exist in the
current land use regulations; and
WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes that the current code is difficult to implement
and has resulted in frustrated expectations that involve an increasingly inordinate amount of staff
time related to numerous interpretations and costly appeals; and
WHEREAS, the City's past efforts to amend the municipal code to address specific
issues did not reorganize or simplify the code in a comprehensive manner; and
WHEREAS, the City Council acknowledges that reorganizing the land use provisions
and fixing inconsistencies and ambiguities will require a system -wide effort including all City
departments and divisions; and
WHEREAS, the City Council anticipates an increase in staff efficiency as a better
organized, user-friendly code would increase the community's understanding and confidence in
the code, a reduction in the need to constantly interpret the code's numerous provisions, an
increase in the consistency in application of the land use provisions, and a reduction in appeals of
planning decisions, and
WHEREAS, the Land Use Committee of the City Council considered the need for a
more effective and clear set of land use regulations and supported efforts to proceed with the re-
organization/re-writing of the City's land use regulations:
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAINBRIDGE ISLAND,
WASHINGTON, DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The following shall be goals of the City's re-organization/re-writing of its
land use regulations:
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a. Re -organize the land use regulations to make them easier to understand and utilize.
b. Eliminate conflicts between the various chapters and titles that contain land use
provisions;
C. Eliminate ambiguities within the code.
d. Revise out-of-date provisions within the land use provisions.
e. Incorporate sustainable principles and practices into land use regulations.
Section 2. The City Council commences the land use code re -organization -re -write
effort with the allocation of $30,000.00 from the 2007 contingency fund;
Section 3. As this effort may take up to two years and that sustained financial support
will be necessary for the success of the effort and therefore, continuous update and feedback
sessions with the City Council must be built into the process;
Section 4. As the process for undertaking a major overhaul of the City's land
regulations must be supported by the community, a plan for citizen participation and review must
be incorporated into the detailed work plan;
PASSED by the City Council this 12th day of September 2007.
APPROVED by the Mayor this 13th day of September 2007.
/7&vcti ""-,
Lo Darlene Kordonowy, Mayor
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATE:
Rosalind D. Lassoff, CNIC, City Clerk
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: September 4, 2007
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: September 12, 2007
RESOLUTION NUMBER: 2007-20
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