File #: 2006-0309    Version: 1
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
File created: 7/10/2006 In control: Growth Management and Natural Resources Committee
On agenda: 9/5/2006 Final action: 9/5/2006
Enactment date: 9/13/2006 Enactment #: 15579
Title: AN ORDINANCE relating to extending the waiver for public benefit rating system and timberlands application fees; and amending Ordinance 1076, Section 4, as amended, and K.C.C. 20.36.040.
Sponsors: Dow Constantine, Larry Phillips
Indexes: Public Benefit Rating System
Attachments: 1. 15579.pdf, 2. 2006-0309 Hearing Notice.doc, 3. 2006-0309 Notice of Enactment.doc, 4. Staff Report 7-11-06
Title
AN ORDINANCE relating to extending the waiver for public benefit rating system and timberlands application fees; and amending Ordinance 1076, Section 4, as amended, and K.C.C. 20.36.040.
Body
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. Chapter 84.34 RCW authorizes counties to assess open space, agricultural lands, and timberlands 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 six hundred landowners have enrolled, resulting in protection of more than six 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 program, the King County council approved Ordinance 15137 amending K.C.C 20.36.040 to waive the application fee for the public benefit rating system in 2005.
7. The King County council appropriated funding to the water and land resources division in 2005 and 2006 to offset lost revenue for the fee waiver and to increase the number staff dedic...

Click here for full text