The purpose of this chapter is:
A. 
To require the subdivider's submission of construction plans for development of the subdivision to the City for review and approval of specific construction details for all public facilities;
B. 
To ensure that the public facilities required as part of approvals granted under this title are built according to City standards;
C. 
To allow subdivision improvement agreements (or development agreements) between the City and property owners for phasing of a preliminary plat or to address any other situation in MTMC § 17.06.050;
D. 
To address bonds and subdivision improvement agreements between the City and property owners/subdividers, allowing a limited deferral for the construction of public facilities associated with the approval; and
E. 
To ensure that the required public facilities and public utilities are ready and available for use when needed by the users of the subdivision.
(Ord. 2658 § 2, 2015)
A. 
Construction plans are required per the Engineering Development Manual adopted in MTMC Chapter 19.95
B. 
The City Engineer’s review of the plans shall not be subject to the permit processing requirements of Chapter 36.70B RCW, Chapter 18.05 MTMC, or this title. Such plans must be approved by the City Engineer prior to the initiation of any work, including grading, on the subject site. Approval of the construction plans shall expire according to the deadlines established in this title for the underlying application.
(Ord. 2658 § 2, 2015; Ord. 2909, 3/5/2026)
Before a short plat can be recorded or a final plat of a subdivision or final binding site plan approved, all applicants are required to install all of the public facilities or other improvements, as specified in the short plat, preliminary plat or preliminary binding site plan approval, the Municipal Code or other applicable City standards. As an alternative to such installation, the applicant may post a bond or a subdivision improvement agreement with appropriate security in order to record the short plat or obtain approval of the final plat or binding site plan. Another prerequisite to such recording or approval is the dedication of those improvements to the City or other utility, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances on the dedicated property and public facilities.
(Ord. 2658 § 2, 2015)
A. 
Purpose. A subdivision improvement agreement may be entered into by and between the City and the owner of property within the City, to address such project elements as those set forth in RCW 36.70B.170(B)(3). The subdivision improvement agreement shall be consistent with the applicable development regulations of the City. The consideration provided by the property owner for the City's decision to enter into the subdivision improvement agreement may vary, depending on the benefits that the agreement will provide to the City and/or the public in general. The City may require a subdivision improvement agreement in those situations where the developer chooses to post a bond or other security, in order to ensure that the requirement for installation of the subdivision improvements is an obligation that runs with the subject property.
B. 
Duration. The subdivision improvement agreement shall have a duration of not longer than two years after short plat, preliminary or final subdivision plat approval. No subdivision improvement agreement may extend the deadlines for recording of a short plat in MTMC § 17.03.080, or for submission of a final plat in MTMC § 17.04.090, or for submission of a final binding site plan in MTMC § 17.05.100. Execution of a subdivision improvement agreement as provided in this section or posting of a performance bond does not eliminate the requirement for the applicant to post a warranty bond, pursuant to MTMC § 17.06.040(D). However, the property owner may choose to address the requirement for a maintenance bond in the subdivision improvement agreement, as provided below.
C. 
Form. All subdivision improvement agreements shall be on the standard form, approved in advance by the City Attorney.
D. 
Effect. Subdivision improvement agreements are not project permit applications and are not subject to the permit processing procedures in Chapter 36.70B RCW and Chapter 18.05 MTMC. A subdivision improvement agreement shall constitute a binding contract between the City and the property owner (and/or subsequent owners of any later-acquired interests in the property identified in the subdivision improvement agreement). A subdivision improvement agreement governs the construction of the project identified in the agreement during the term of the agreement, or for all or that part of the build-out period specified in the agreement. A permit or approval granted by the City after execution of a valid subdivision improvement agreement must be consistent with the agreement.
E. 
Limitations. Any provision of the subdivision improvement agreement which requires the City to: (1) refrain from exercising any authority; (2) forgo adoption of any development regulations affecting the property identified in the agreement; (3) allow vesting beyond the applicable deadlines for a phased development; shall be limited to a period of 10 years. The agreement shall also contain a proviso that the City may, without incurring any liability, engage in action that would otherwise be a breach of the agreement if the City makes a determination on the record that the action is necessary to avoid a serious threat to public health and safety, or if the action is required by federal or state law.
F. 
Termination and Modification. Every subdivision improvement agreement shall have an identified, specific termination date. Upon termination, any further development of the property shall conform to the development regulations applicable to the property. The City shall not modify any agreement by extending the termination date except in certain limited circumstances where additional consideration has been provided to the City. Any request for modification of the agreement, and any required application revision, shall be consistent with the City's development regulations applicable to the property at the time of the request, not the original execution date of the agreement or earlier.
G. 
Application Requirements. A complete application for a subdivision improvement agreement shall consist of the following:
1. 
Name, address, telephone number and e-mail address of the property owner. If the applicant is not the property owner, the applicant must submit a verified statement from the property owner that the applicant has the property owner's permission to submit the application;
2. 
Address, parcel number and legal description of the property proposed to be subject to the subdivision improvement agreement;
3. 
Recent title report confirming that the property identified in the application is owned by the applicant/property owner signing the verified statement;
4. 
SEPA checklist;
5. 
Identification of the application that is related to the subdivision improvement agreement;
6. 
A completed application form and application fee established by the City in a resolution adopted for this purpose;
7. 
Any other information requested by the Community and Economic Development Director relevant to the processing of the subdivision improvement agreement.
H. 
Covenants Recorded Against the Property. The subdivision improvement agreement must be signed by the owner(s) of the property, shall run with the land and bind all heirs or successors of the property.
I. 
Security Required. The City may require that the developer provide a letter of credit or cash escrow as security for the promises contained in the subdivision improvement agreement. Either security shall be in an amount equal to 150 percent of the estimated cost of completion of the required public improvements.
1. 
Letter of Credit. If the applicant chooses to post a letter of credit, as security for the subdivision improvement agreement, such form shall be approved in advance by the City Attorney. The letter of credit shall be (a) irrevocable; (b) for a term sufficient to cover the completion, maintenance and warranty periods for the improvements; and (c) require only that the City present the letter of credit with a sight draft and an affidavit signed by the City Attorney, attesting to the City's right to draw funds under the letter of credit.
2. 
Cash Escrow. If the applicant posts a cash escrow as security for the subdivision improvement agreement, such form shall be approved in advance by the City Attorney. The escrow instructions shall provide that (a) the subdivider will have no right to a return of any of the funds except as provided herein; and (b) that the escrow agent shall have a legal duty to deliver the funds to the City whenever the City Attorney presents an affidavit to the agent, attesting to the City's right to receive funds, whether or not the subdivider protests that right.
3. 
Residual Funds as Maintenance Security. If and when the City accepts the offer of dedication for the last completed required public facility, the City shall execute a waiver of its right to receive all but a prearranged amount of the "residual" portion of the funds. The residual funds shall be security for the applicant's covenant to maintain the required public facilities and to warrant that the same will be free from any defects for the required two-year period.
J. 
Phased Development.
1. 
In order to phase a project to extend the vested rights associated with an underlying project permit application, a subdivision improvement agreement is required. This ensures the availability of public facilities and services to all of the property in the identified individual phases, allows tracking of the available capacity of public facilities and utilities during each phase of construction, and with the extension of the vested rights associated with the project, provides certainty to the developer in the subsequent development approval process.
2. 
The deadlines in this title shall be consulted to establish the baseline vesting period. The City is not required to extend these vesting periods. If the City decides to do so in a subdivision improvement agreement, it must be in exchange for the property owner's provision of corresponding benefits to the City in the form of, for example, contributions to public facilities and amenities over and above what would normally be required. In any event, the City shall not allow vesting to extend beyond the 10-year period established in subsection E of this section.
3. 
A subdivision improvement agreement for a phased development shall include (in addition to the requirements for a complete application in subsection G of this section) all of the following:
a. 
Identification of the phasing schedule;
b. 
Identification of the number of phases and lots included in each phase;
c. 
Identification of the approximate dates for construction of public streets, public utilities and other improvements in each phase;
d. 
Identification of the approximate dates for commencement of development of each lot, lot sales and building occupancy;
e. 
Identification of the benefits that the property owner will provide to the City in exchange for permission to phase the development according to the proposed schedule;
f. 
Establishment of the deadline for the property owner to submit development applications;
g. 
A description of the manner in which each phase is designed such that all site requirements are satisfied independently of phases yet to be given final approval and constructed; and
h. 
A description of the manner in which the property owner will ensure that adequate public facilities are available when the impact of development occurs. The property owner shall acknowledge in the subdivision improvement agreement that if the demand for public facilities or services needed to accommodate a subsequent development phase increases following the issuance of a development permit for a prior phase in the approval process, or if public facilities or services included in a concurrency or SEPA determination are not constructed as scheduled in the City's capital facilities plan, final development approval may have to be delayed for future phases pending the achievement of the adopted levels of service.
K. 
Processing Procedures.
1. 
Consolidation. Whenever possible, the subdivision improvement agreement shall be consolidated for processing with an underlying project permit application or other application for approval. If consolidated, the property owner must agree to waive the deadline for a final decision on the underlying project permit application, as well as the prohibition on no more than one open record hearing and one closed record hearing on the underlying project permit application in RCW 36.70B.080 and 36.70B.060(3).
2. 
Public Hearing. While the Director or the Planning Commission may provide a recommendation on a subdivision improvement agreement (even if the Director or Planning Commission makes the final decision on the underlying project permit application), the City Council shall make the final decision whether to approve the agreement by ordinance or resolution after a public hearing. Modifications to the agreement shall be in writing, signed by the duly authorized representatives of the parties, be consistent with this title and follow the same procedures set forth in this title.
3. 
Appeal. A subdivision improvement agreement associated with an underlying project permit application may be appealed in the same manner and within the same deadline as the underlying project permit application.
(Ord. 2658 § 2, 2015)
The applicant shall pay for and build all temporary improvements required by any approval, and shall maintain those improvements as set forth in the approval. Prior to the construction of any temporary improvement, the applicant shall provide a bond, or subdivision improvement agreement with a cash escrow or cash set aside in an amount established by the City Engineer to ensure that the temporary facilities/improvements will be properly constructed, maintained and timely removed.
(Ord. 2658 § 2, 2015)
All required public facilities or other improvements shall be constructed by the applicant/property owner, at its expense, without reimbursement by the City, unless otherwise specified in the project permit approval or subdivision improvement agreement with the City. To the extent allowed by law, the City may form or cause to be formed a local improvement district or latecomers' agreement for the construction and financing of the required public facilities, excluding on-site improvements on individual lots. If such district is formed or latecomer agreement signed, the applicant/property owner shall not be released from its obligation (as set forth in the bonds, cash escrow or cash set aside) to construct the public facilities until complete or the City is satisfied that a subsequent guarantee will cover performance.
(Ord. 2658 § 2, 2015)
Acceptance of formal offers of dedication of streets, public areas, easements and parks shall be by ordinance or resolution of the City Council. The approval of the final plat shall not be deemed to constitute or imply acceptance by the City of any street, easement or park shown on the plat.
(Ord. 2658 § 2, 2015)
A. 
General Procedure. The subdivider/property owner shall pay an inspection fee based on the estimated cost of the inspection, which fees shall be due and payable upon inspection. No building permits or certificates of occupancy shall issue until the fees are paid. If the City Engineer finds that one or more of the required public facilities or other improvements have not been constructed in accordance with the City's approval of the plans and specifications or the applicable standards and/or approval, the subdivider/property owner shall be responsible for any corrections and completion of the improvements.
B. 
Release of Security. The City will not accept dedication of required public facilities or improvements, nor release nor reduce the amount of any security posted by the subdivider, until the City Engineer has submitted a certificate stating:
1. 
That all required public facilities or other improvements have been satisfactorily completed; and
2. 
The subdivider's engineer or surveyor has certified to the City Engineer, through the submission of a detailed "as-built" survey plat of the subdivision, indicating location, dimensions, materials and other information required by the City's public works standards, that the layout of the line and grade of all transportation facilities, public facilities or other improvements is in accordance with the approved construction plans for the subdivision or binding site plan.
C. 
City's Acceptance. Upon the recommendation for approval of the City Engineer, the City Council shall thereafter accept the improvements for dedication in an ordinance or resolution adopted for this purpose.
D. 
Maintenance of Improvements. The subdivider/property owner shall be required to maintain all required public facilities until the dedication of same is formally accepted by the City. Following the acceptance of the public facilities, the subdivider shall provide a warranty bond or other security to the City as required by MTMC § 17.06.040(D).
E. 
Issuance of Building Permits and Certificates of Occupancy. When a bond and/or other security with a subdivision improvement agreement have been accepted by the City for the construction of public facilities or other improvements in a short plat, final plat or final binding site plan, the City may issue building permits for development within the subdivision, but the City shall not issue a certificate of occupancy for any building in the development prior to the completion of the required public facilities or improvements and the acceptance of the dedication of those facilities or improvements by the City. The City Engineer may authorize the issuance of up to 50 percent of the building permits for the lots in the subdivision if: (1) the applicant is not in default of the subdivision improvement agreement; and (2) the applicant has constructed and the City has inspected/accepted the public facilities or other improvements necessary to serve the lots for which such building permit applications have been submitted.
(Ord. 2658 § 2, 2015)