[1]
Prior legislation: Ord. 1107.
Zillah city council previously determined that the fees and charges being assessed to applicants for review and processing of land use and permit applications were inadequate and failed to cover the costs actually incurred in the review and processing of land use applications. It was also recognized that the increasing size and complexity of applications together with added state and federal requirements had significantly added to the responsibilities of local government and its staff. City council determined that city government was not in a position to subsidize or absorb costs, and that the fees being assessed for processing applications should cover the actual cost and expense incurred by the city for such review and processing, and after receiving input from a number of sources including the city's land use consultant, review of historic costs and consideration of comparable rates charged by similar jurisdictions, the city council determined that the fee schedule should be amended in order to adequately address those concerns. Recently, changes were made to the Zillah Municipal Code which affected some of the processing procedures for certain applications. Since those changes affected certain applications it is necessary to make the following revisions.
(Ord. 1326 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1263 § 1, 2011)
The following fee schedule shall apply for applications regarding land use issues in the city of Zillah, Washington, from and after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter:
Permit Type
Fee Amount
Conditional Use Permit
$400.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Commercial Site Development Plan
$700.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Zoning Variance
$200.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Planned Unit Development
$975.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Planned Unit Development Amendment
$500.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Planned Unit Development Variance
$200.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Annexation Petition
$975.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Telecommunication Facilities:
Class 1 (Minor)
$400.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Class 2 (Major)
$600.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Class 3 (New Facilities)
$975.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Boundary Line Adjustment
$150.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Appeals
$200.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Administrative Adjustment
$100.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Administrative Site Plan Review
$100.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Short Plats (2 to 4 Lots):
Preliminary
$500.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Final Plat Review Fee
$200.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Plat Amendment
$400.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Plat Variance
$350.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Short Plats (5 to 9 Lots):
Preliminary
$700.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Final Plat Review Fee
$200.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Plat Amendment
$400.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Plat Variance
$350.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Qualified Exemption/Elimination
$150.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Long Plats:
Preliminary Plats
$975.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Final Plat Review Fee
$300.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Plat Amendment
$400.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Plat Variance
$350.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
SEPA Environmental Review:
SEPA Checklist
$150.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees. (Fee is in addition to application fee for nonexempt proposals.)
Environmental Impact Statement
$300.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Shoreline and Critical Areas Permit
$150.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees. (Fee is in addition to application fee for nonexempt proposals.)
Comprehensive Plan (Map) Amendment
$975.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Comprehensive Plan Text Amendment
$975.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Development Regulations Text Amendment
$975.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Rezone Application
$975.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Street or Alley Vacation
$250.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Utility Easement Release
$150.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Administrative Interpretation/Decision
$100.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Special Council Meeting
Requested by individual/applicant: $250.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Unclassified Application
$100.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Special Use Permits:
Allowed special uses as outlined in ZMC § 17.82.020(A) and (C)
$100.00 + staff, consultant and professional fees if over the initial fee.
Livestock in conjunction with approved FFA or 4-H approved project or events as outlined in ZMC § 17.82.020(B)
$15.00
(Ord. 1326 § 2, 2013; Ord. 1263 § 2, 2011)
Application and processing fees for land use matters are subject to additional costs incurred by city in excess of filing fee related to staff, consultant and professional time and charges related to the review and processing of the land use or permit application. Such charges shall be calculated as follows:
A. 
Staff Review and Charges. The fee schedule contemplates routine time requirements for staff review and processing of a land use or permit application. Some applications will require additional staff time and cost. If, in the opinion of the city clerk, a particular application will require staff time in excess of what the fee anticipates, the city may require payment for staff time at the specified rate.
B. 
Consultant and Professional Review. In the event that a project requires professional services beyond that which is included in the base fee, the applicant shall reimburse the city for the actual cost of said professional services. In addition to the application fee (including staff review charges), any applicant for land use or permit approval shall reimburse the city for costs, including, but not limited to, professional engineers, mailing fees, advertisement fees and other consultants and/or professionals contracted or retained by the city to review, evaluate and/or inspect applicant's proposal when the city is unable to do so with existing staff resources. By way of illustration and not limitation, these professional services may include engineering and technical review, legal review, planning review, environmental review, critical areas review, financial and accounting review, soils review, and mechanical and structural engineering review.
C. 
Deposit. City may require the applicant to deposit an amount determined by city as reasonable estimate for anticipated excess costs and charges related to review and processing of the application. Such estimate may be revised periodically based on the judgment of city staff. Such deposit shall be made as a condition to further processing of the land use or permit application.
(Ord. 1326 § 3, 2013; Ord. 1263 § 3, 2011)
Any person aggrieved with a fee imposed in excess of the stated fee or minimum deposit may seek review of the fee with the city mayor by filing a written request for review. The mayor shall meet with both parties within 10 days of the request and determine the reasonableness of the fee. The mayor shall then make a decision within seven days, and may affirm the fee or reduce it as he shall determine. The mayor's decision shall be final.
(Ord. 1326 § 4, 2013; Ord. 1263 § 4, 2011)