Drafter
Clerk 10/16/2007
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AN ORDINANCE relating to extending the waiver for public benefit rating system and timber land application fees; and amending Ordinance 1076, Section 4, as amended, and K.C.C. 20.36.040.
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STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. Chapter 84.34 RCW authorizes counties to assess open space, agricultural lands, and timber lands based on their current use rather than their highest and best use in recognition of the public benefits that these uses provide.
2. In 1992, the King County council approved Ordinance 1076 implementing the provisions of chapter 84.34 RCW and establishing procedures, rules and fees for the consideration of applications for public benefit rating system assessed valuation on "open space land" and for current use assessment on "farm and agricultural land" and "timber land" as those lands are defined in RCW 84.34.020.
3. In doing so, the King County council found that it is in the best interest of the county to maintain, preserve, conserve and otherwise continue in existence adequate open space lands for the production of food, fiber and forest crops, and to assure the use and enjoyment of natural resources and scenic beauty for the economic and social well-being of the county and its citizens.
4. Since the establishment of King County's public benefit rating system, more than eight hundred landowners have enrolled, resulting in protection of more than seven thousand acres. Since the establishment of the timber land program, more than three hundred landowners have enrolled, resulting in management and protection of more than three thousand acres.
5. King County Comprehensive Plan policy E-101 directs that the county should use incentives to protect and restore the natural environment whenever practicable.
6. In order to facilitate applications to the public benefit rating system and the timber land program, the King County council has approved legislation amending K.C.C 20.36.040 to waive the application fee f...

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