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MRSC Insight Blog


Posts for Land Use Administration

A group sitting around a table reviews construction plans

2023 Legislative Updates to Modernize and Streamline Local Project Review

September 5, 2023  by  Jill Dvorkin
Category:  Land Use Administration ,  New Legislation and Regulations

In 2023, SB 5290 introduced legislative tweaks to local project review to improve process predictability, including the establishment of grant and technical assistance programs to help local governments build the resources needed for timely permit processing.

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Six Suggested Actions for Planners during the Extended COVID-19 Pandemic

Six Suggested Actions for Planners during the Extended COVID-19 Pandemic

January 28, 2021  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Development Regulations and Zoning ,  Streets and Sidewalks ,  Strategies and Programs ,  Land Use Administration

This blog suggests some action items planners can undertake during the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage commerce, promote recreational opportunities, and streamline the planning process. 

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Trial by Zoom: Using Online Platforms in Administrative Proceedings, Trials, and Oral Arguments

Trial by Zoom: Using Online Platforms in Administrative Proceedings, Trials, and Oral Arguments

December 28, 2020  by  Clara Park
Category:  Guest Author ,  Courts and Criminal Justice System ,  COVID-19 ,  Land Use Administration

This blog post discusses the current state of virtual proceedings and offers pointers for anyone navigating the shift from in-person to virtual proceedings.

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2020 Legislative Outcomes for Planning and Land Use-Related Issues

2020 Legislative Outcomes for Planning and Land Use-Related Issues

June 25, 2020  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Land Use Administration ,  New Legislation and Regulations

This blog post summarizes major planning/land use-related bills that were passed during the 2020 Washington State legislative session. 

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Quickly Switching Over to an Online Permitting/Plan Review System

Quickly Switching Over to an Online Permitting/Plan Review System

June 18, 2020  by  Steve Butler
Category:  COVID-19 ,  Land Use Administration

This blog post highlights local planning/building departments that quickly converted from a traditional permitting/plan review process to an online system.

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Yim I and Yim II Clarify Washington Regulatory Takings and Substantive Due Process Law

Yim I and Yim II Clarify Washington Regulatory Takings and Substantive Due Process Law

January 2, 2020  by  Roger Wynne
Category:  Guest Author ,  Court Decisions and AGO Opinions ,  Land Use Administration

This blog post addresses Yim I and Yim II,  two recent Washington Supreme Court rulings that clarify the state's regulatory takings and substantive due process jurisprudence.

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Providing Exceptional Customer Service at Your Permit Counter

Providing Exceptional Customer Service at Your Permit Counter

November 30, 2018  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Land Use Administration

This blog post looks at how a city, town, or county can take steps to ensure its front desk staff provide excellent customer service at the permit counter. 

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The Culverts Case: An Overview and Potential Implications for Local Governments

The Culverts Case: An Overview and Potential Implications for Local Governments

June 20, 2018  by  Jill Dvorkin
Category:  Land Use Administration

This blog takes a look at the Culverts Case and potential implications for local governments in Washington State.

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December 2017 Land Use Case Law Update

December 2017 Land Use Case Law Update

January 4, 2018  by  Jill Dvorkin
Category:  Court Decisions and AGO Opinions ,  Land Use Administration

Legal Consultant Jill Dvorkin reviews the top land use cases from the latter half of 2017. These cases were heard by the State Supreme Court and may impact Washington State local governments in the future. 

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Recent Changes to Washington’s Land Use and Planning Laws

Recent Changes to Washington’s Land Use and Planning Laws

August 31, 2017  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Land Use Administration ,  New Legislation and Regulations

The most recent Washington state legislative session resulted in changes to the Growth Management Act and tweaks to other land use/planning-related statutes. This blog post will provide a summary of some of those recently passed bills.

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June 2017 Land Use Case Law Update Recap

June 2017 Land Use Case Law Update Recap

June 29, 2017  by  Jill Dvorkin
Category:  Court Decisions and AGO Opinions ,  Land Use Administration

On June 15, Phil Olbrechts and Jill Dvorkin presented the first of two annual Land Use Case Law Update webinars for 2017. In this blog post, Jill Dvorkin provides a brief recap of the cases covered in the webinar, as well as a summary of another case decided since the webinar.

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Grassy meadow with trees, lake, and mountain in background

Land Use Case Law Update Recap

December 21, 2016  by  Jill Dvorkin
Category:  Court Decisions and AGO Opinions ,  Land Use Administration

In our recent Land Use Case Law Update webinar, Phil Olbrechts and Jill Dvorkin discussed key land use cases decided, for the most part, within the past six months. In this blog post, I will briefly recap the cases we covered during the webinar.

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Should Legislative Bodies Conduct Quasi-Judicial Hearings?

Should Legislative Bodies Conduct Quasi-Judicial Hearings?

August 31, 2016  by  Joseph W. Tovar
Category:  Guest Author ,  Land Use Administration

In our latest Planning Advisor column, Joe Tovar argues that city, town, and county councils should remove themselves from quasi-judicial roles and delegate that authority to hearing examiners instead.

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8 Key Components of an Effective Planning-related Staff Report

8 Key Components of an Effective Planning-related Staff Report

March 23, 2016  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Land Use Administration

An overview and some tips about what makes a quality planning staff report.

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Taking Deliberate Steps to Improve The Development Permitting Process

Taking Deliberate Steps to Improve The Development Permitting Process

August 31, 2015  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Land Use Administration

A look at how Redmond, Renton, and Kittitas County improved their permit processes using lean.

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sacramento-bungalow-plan.jpg

What’s Not to Like? – Pre-Approved Plans Offer Faster Permitting, Cheaper Housing, Quality Design

July 3, 2014  by  Sue Enger
Category:  Land Use Administration

It is probably fair to say that most homeowners or builders who visit city hall (or the county) for a single family or small project permit, have less than fond memories...

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The Multi-Personalities of Site Specific Rezones - Or - A Cheat Sheet for Everything You Need to Know about Site-Specific Rezones

March 31, 2013  by  Phil Olbrechts
Category:  Guest Author ,  Land Use Administration

We just can't help ourselves. We have to categorize everything. Put them into neat little boxes. We especially like to do that in the laws we pass. Land use laws are no exception. We start the boxing process for land use laws by throwing an issue in either the “legislative” or “permitting” box. That's usually an easy task. Except for site specific rezones. Sometimes site...

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The Unassailable Right to Make Any Decision You Want: Avoiding Judicial Intervention in Local Land Use Decision Making

May 31, 2012  by  Phil Olbrechts
Category:  Guest Author ,  Administrative and Elected Officials ,  Land Use Administration

Any superior court judge in your county can single-handedly toss out a decision of your entire city council if the judge decrees your council violated the constitution or some state or federal law. Are there any decisions out of reach of your local superior court judge?

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