BEFORE THE WESTERN WASHINGTON GROWTH

MANAGEMENT HEARINGS BOARD

                                                                                               

                                                           )

EUGENE BUTLER, et al.,                                                       )   No. 99-2-0027c

                                                                                                )

                                                            Petitioners,                   )   ORDER          

                                                                                                )   RE: STAY

                                                v.                                             )                                                                                                                                                           )          

LEWIS COUNTY,                                                                  )  
            )

                         Respondent.                )

                                                                                                )
                                                and                                           )

                                                                                                )

CITY OF CENTRALIA, et al.,                                                )

                                                                                                )

                                                            Intervenors.                  )

________________________________________________)

 

On March 1, 2000, we received a motion from Petitioner John T. Mudge to “stay certain portions” of an ordinance codified as Chapter 17.120 adopted by Lewis County as an emergency (without public hearing) on February 14, 2000.  The ordinance allows an application for property involved in the “master plan process” to vest on the 31^st day after receipt, unless the County issues a letter identifying specific information required for a completed application.  Petitioner Mudge contended that a major purpose of the ordinance was to circumvent the current Growth Management Hearings Board (GMHB) review process of the master plan communities of Birchfied Division 2 and Skye Village.

 

On March 9, 2000, Intervenor Port of Chehalis (Port) filed a response and on March 10, 2000, Lewis County filed a response.  The Port pointed out that since no petition challenging the February 14, 2000, ordinance had been filed we had not obtained jurisdiction to issue any ruling regarding the County’s action.  Additionally, the Port and the County contended that nothing in the Growth Management Act allowed a GMHB authority to issue an injunction and/or stay. 

 

We agree that no jurisdiction over the new provisions of Title 17 of the Lewis County Code exists.  Until and unless a petition for review is filed that challenges the February 14, 2000, action of the County, we have no authority to address any issue dealing with that action (except as it might be in response to an earlier finding of noncompliance).  We do not address the issue of a GMHB’s authority to impose a stay.  RCW 36.70A.290(1).

 

The motion is denied.

 

So ORDERED this 23^rd day of March, 2000.

 

WESTERN WASHINGTON GROWTH MANAGEMENT HEARINGS BOARD                      

 

 

_____________________________

                                                                        William H. Nielsen

                                                                        Board Member

 

 

                                                _____________________________

                                                                        Nan A. Henriksen

                                                                        Board Member

 

 

                                                                        _____________________________

                                                                        Les Eldridge

                                                                        Board Member