Ordinance 3752-20 - Laserfiche WebLink

EVERETT WASHINGTON ORDINANCE NO. 3752-20 AN INTERIM ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF EVERETT, WASHINGTON, IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TEMPORARILY POSTPONING EXPIRATION OF DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS AND APPROVED LAND USE ACTIONS AND CONSTRUCTION PERMITS AND TEMPORARILY TOLLING PROCEDURAL DEADLINES; AUTHORIZING ADMINISTRATIVE INTERPRETATIONS; DECLARING THIS A PUBLIC EMERGENCY ORDINANCE PURSUANT TO RCW 35.63.200; AND ESTABLISHING AN EXPIRATION DATE CONSISTENT WITH RCW 36.70A.390. WHEREAS, the World Health Organization has determined that a pandemic exists due to the global spread of a highly contagious virus commonly known as COVID-19; and WHEREAS, a state of emergency has been declared by the federal, state, county, and municipal governments in response to the pandemic; and WHEREAS, on March 23, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee issued Emergency Proclamation 20-25 ("Stay Home, Stay Healthy order") requiring all people in Washington State to immediately cease leaving their home or place of residence except to conduct or participate in essential activities and/or for employment in essential business services; and WHEREAS, on March 25, 2020, Governor Inslee provided official guidance stating that construction activities are not considered essential under Proclamation 20-25, except in limited circumstances; and WHEREAS, the pandemic and the emergency declarations and proclamations are causing delays for an indeterminate period of time in the construction, inspection, and review of development projects with an active application or permit with the City of Everett and will cause delays with any project or permit applications filed during the state of emergency; and WHEREAS, a number of land use and permit review statutes and municipal code provisions, including chapter 36.70B RCW and Title 15 of the Everett Municipal Code, impose certain time limitations and process requirements, such as public hearings, on development permit applications that are not achievable in the current emergency while complying with the Governor's proclamations; and