A recent administrative ruling that local governments may not "second guess" the siting of unwanted public facilities within their borders has the city of SeaTac considering amending its zoning code.
The code change relates to "essential public facilities" such as prisons or sex offender housing, which are typically difficult to site.
The Central Puget Sound Growth Management Hearings Board recently held that local governments can not revisit a siting decision made by a regional or state government body for such facilities.
The case centered around a decision to place a sewage treatment plant in Snohomish County.
Municipalities may impose conditions and mitigation measures as long as they are not too onerous, according to SeaTac Planning Director Steve Butler.
SeaTac's zoning changes would remove a requirement that a facility's proponent show why the site could not be located in another city.
A second hearing would no longer be required if the proponent and SeaTac officials disagreed on the site.
Under the new ruling, "a second hearing would be a waste of time," Butler noted.
City staffers know of no upcoming controversial sites slated for SeaTac.
In fact, the only expected application for an "essential public facility" in SeaTac is a welcome one - a light-rail station next to Sea-Tac International Airport.
Referring to the proposed zoning changes, Mayor Frank Hansen declared, "It appears to me we have to follow state law."
However, Joe Dixon, a planning commission member, objected to a scheduled zoning change vote by lawmakers on Sept. 27.
He said the planning commission will take up the proposal the day before the scheduled vote and a decision the next day would not allow enough time to fully consider the proposal.
"Don't rush the legislation through," Dixon urged.
Speaking as a private citizen, Dixon said he favors city review of siting decisions.
He said his ad-hoc committee managed to convince Sound Transit officials not to run light rail down the center of International Boulevard.
Eric Mathison can be reached at hteditor@robinsonnews.com, or 206-444-4873.
