The purpose of this chapter is to establish or reference the procedure and requirements for the application, review and approval of general and specific binding site plans. The procedure is intended to provide orderly and expeditious processing of such applications.
(Ord. 2000-056 § 1; Ord. 2018-032 § 1 (Exh. E))
(1) 
An applicant requesting final approval of a general and/or specific binding site plan shall submit to the administrative official copies of the materials specified in the department's administrative manual. The request shall be accompanied by a statement from the county engineer that Whatcom County has accepted as complete all on-site and off-site improvements required by the conditions of preliminary binding site plan approval, or has received cost estimates and performance guarantees to assure completion thereof.
(2) 
The applicant shall submit a current title report issued no more than 60 days prior to the director signing the general or specific binding site plan original drawing. The owner of record and the surveyor of record shall sign the general or specific binding site plan original drawing prior to filing it for record with the county auditor.
(3) 
The general binding site plan that will be filed with the county auditor shall contain a statement of approval from the following:
(a) 
The county engineer as to the layout of streets, alleys, and other rights-of-way, and the design of bridges, drainage and surface water management facilities, and other physical improvements required by the conditions of preliminary binding site plan approval;
(b) 
The county treasurer stating that all taxes and delinquent assessments for which the property may be liable as of the date of certification have been duly paid, satisfied, or discharged;
(c) 
The county health and human services department as to the adequacy of potable water supply and sewage disposal; and
(d) 
The director stating that the general binding site plan conforms to all terms of the preliminary binding site plan approval, the requirements of Chapter 58.17 RCW and other applicable state laws, and meets the requirements of this title that were in effect at the time of vesting of the preliminary binding site plan application.
(4) 
Each specific binding site plan shall contain a statement of approval from the following:
(a) 
The county engineer as to the layout of streets, alleys, and other rights-of-way, and the design of bridges;
(b) 
The county treasurer stating that all taxes and delinquent assessments for which the property may be liable as of the date of certification have been duly paid, satisfied, or discharged;
(c) 
The county health and human services department as to the adequacy of potable water supply and sewage disposal; and
(d) 
The director stating that the specific binding site plan conforms to all terms of approval of the preliminary and general binding site plan, the requirements of Chapter 58.17 RCW and other applicable state laws, and meets the requirements of this title that were in effect at the time of vesting of the preliminary binding site plan application.
(5) 
General and specific binding site plans shall be approved, disapproved, or returned to the applicant with corrections within 30 days of submittal to the county, unless the applicant consents to an extension of such time period.
(6) 
The Whatcom County auditor shall not accept a binding site plan for filing until the approving authorities have approved it, as indicated on the instrument by the appropriate signature. The signature of the approving authorities shall not be affixed until the developer has posted the guarantees as stipulated in the appropriate standards.
(7) 
After approval, one original drawing of the general or specific binding site plan shall immediately be filed by the professional land surveyor of record with the county auditor.
(Ord. 2000-056 § 1; Ord. 2018-032 § 1 (Exh. E))
As an alternate to complete installation of required improvements, the applicant may propose to post securities consistent with WCC § 22.05.134 (Security mechanisms). No occupancy permit, final inspection, or use of the lot(s) created by a binding site plan shall be issued or allowed until all necessary infrastructure improvements as specified by this title have been met.
(Ord. 2000-056 § 1; Ord. 2018-032 § 1 (Exh. E); Ord. 2023-018 § 1 (Exh. A))
The vacation and alteration of a binding site plan shall be processed in accordance with RCW 58.17.212 and 58.17.215, respectively, when the vacation or alteration involves a public dedication. Other vacations and alterations shall be approved by the hearing examiner, except for alterations to lot lines, which may be accomplished through the boundary line adjustment process.
(Ord. 2000-056 § 1; Ord. 2018-032 § 1 (Exh. E))
The following disclosures and notes, if applicable, shall be recorded in the county auditor's office and a statement identifying the subject and the auditor's file number for each such instrument shall be on the general binding site plan and each specific binding site plan original drawing under surveyor's notes prior to final approval by the county:
□ Right to farm, right to practice forestry, mineral resource disclosures.
□ Critical area notes.
□ Boundary discrepancies.
□ Protective covenants, conditions and restrictions.
□ Drainage maintenance agreement block.
□ Road maintenance agreement block (private roads only).
□ Latecomers' agreements.
□ Significant pipeline in vicinity disclosure when the subject property is within 500 feet of a pipeline shown on Map 5-2, Chapter 5 of the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan.
(Ord. 2000-056 § 1; Ord. 2002-017 § 1; Ord. 2004-031 § 1; Ord. 2016-035 § 1 (Exh. A), 2016; Ord. 2018-032 § 1 (Exh. E))