Upon receipt of a complete preliminary plat application the administrator shall affix a file number and date of receipt to the application and promptly forward copies of the plat with a request for comment to the following agencies as appropriate:
(1) 
The Lewis County public works department;
(2) 
The Lewis County community development department;
(3) 
The Lewis County building official;
(4) 
The Lewis County fire marshal;
(5) 
The Lewis County environmental health section;
(6) 
Other county officials concerned within the scope of their municipal functions;
(7) 
The proper city officials when the subject property is within one mile of the corporate limits of any city or town;
(8) 
Engineer of the Washington State Department of Transportation when the subject property is adjacent to the rights-of-way of existing or proposed state highways;
(9) 
Local school district;
(10) 
Local fire district;
(11) 
Utility purveyors;
(12) 
Lewis County natural resources conservation district;
(13) 
Municipalities whose urban growth boundaries or urban reserve areas overlay any portion of the subject property;
(14) 
Any other agency with interest, expertise, or jurisdiction.
(Ord. 1169 § 1, III, H, 2000; Ord. 1269 § 3, 2016; Ord. 1325 § 1 (Att. B), 2021)
(1) 
Each of the departments, municipalities, districts, public officials, utility companies, or other public agencies shall forward to the administrator written reports of its comments and recommendations.
(2) 
County Engineer - Public Works Division. The public works division shall submit a report on:
(a) 
The improvements required under the provisions of this chapter;
(b) 
Any easements that may be required;
(c) 
The effect of subdivision development on drainage in the general area, and the adequacy of the plan for handling drainage and stormwater runoff submitted by the subdivider;
(d) 
Effects of the proposed subdivision on other public improvements under the jurisdiction of the county engineer/public works division;
(e) 
The accuracy of the technical information submitted;
(f) 
The adequacy of lot arrangement and dimensions for providing driveway access to buildings on such lots from an approved street;
(g) 
The adequacy of any proposed public and private roadways;
(h) 
The adequacy of transit stops, parks and recreation, playgrounds, schools and school grounds and all other relevant facts, including sidewalks and other planning features that assure safe walking conditions for students who only walk to and from school.
(3) 
Lewis County Environmental Health Section. The environmental health section shall submit a report on:
(a) 
Adequacy of the proposed method of sewage disposal;
(b) 
Adequacy of the proposed method of domestic water supply, and incorporating the determination of potability by the building official;
(c) 
The adequacy of lot arrangement and dimensions for obtaining any necessary sewage permits;
(d) 
Other matters related to the proposed subdivision which may affect public health.
(4) 
Lewis County Building Official. The county building official shall submit a report on:
(a) 
The adequacy of lot arrangement and dimensions for securing necessary building permits;
(b) 
Compliance with Chapter 15.15 LCC as now or hereafter amended;
(c) 
Compliance with the Chapter 15.35 LCC as now or hereafter amended;
(d) 
The availability of potable water.
(5) 
Lewis County Fire Marshal. The county fire marshal shall submit a report on:
(a) 
The adequacy of access for emergency vehicles;
(b) 
Adequacy of the water supply for fire protection purposes;
(c) 
Fire hydrant location and adequacy;
(d) 
Other matters affecting fire safety and fire protection, including any temporary fire protection measures needed during the construction phase of the subdivision.
(6) 
The Administrator. After receiving the comments from the departments or agencies, the administrator shall submit a report to the hearing examiner regarding the conformance of the proposed subdivision to the requirements of this chapter.
(Ord. 1169 § 1, III, I, 2000; Ord. 1269 § 3, 2016; Ord. 1325 § 1 (Att. B), 2021)
Following the receipt of an application completed in compliance with the requirements of this article, the administrator shall set the date for public hearing before the Lewis County hearing examiner. Said hearing shall be held in accordance with Chapter 2.25 LCC. Any public notice and appeal period for an environmental review subject to Chapter 17.110 LCC shall be issued and expire prior to the public hearing.
(Ord. 1169 § 1, III, J, 2000; Ord. 1269 § 3, 2016; Ord. 1325 § 1 (Att. B), 2021)
(1) 
Scope and Continuance.
(a) 
The hearing examiner shall consider the preliminary plat application for conformance to any adopted comprehensive plan, planning standards, and specifications, including Article VI of this chapter and other policies and standards of the county.
(b) 
The hearing examiner shall additionally ensure that:
(i) 
Appropriate provisions are made for public health, safety, and general welfare and for such open spaces, drainage ways, streets or roads, alleys, other public ways, transit stops, potable water supplies, sanitary wastes, parks and recreation, playgrounds, schools and school grounds, and all other relevant items, including sidewalks and other planning features that assure safe walking conditions for students who walk to and from school;
(ii) 
The public use and interest will be served by the platting of the subdivision and any dedications associated with the subdivision.
(c) 
If the examiner finds that the proposed subdivision and dedication make appropriate provisions and that the public use and interest will be served, then the examiner shall approve the proposed subdivision. Dedication of land to any public body and/or provision of public improvements to serve the subdivision may be required as a condition of subdivision approval.
(Ord. 1169 § 1, III, L, 2000; Ord. 1269 § 3, 2016; Ord. 1325 § 1 (Att. B), 2021)
(1) 
Every decision made by the hearing examiner under this chapter to approve or disapprove a preliminary plat shall be in writing and shall include findings of fact and conclusions to support the decision.
(2) 
Records. Records of the public hearings and public meetings concerning a preliminary plat shall be kept by the administrator and shall be open to public inspection.
(Ord. 1169 § 1, III, M, 2000; Ord. 1269 § 3, 2016; Ord. 1325 § 1 (Att. B), 2021)
(1) 
Approval of the preliminary plat by the hearing examiner shall provide notice to the subdivider that he/she may proceed to develop the subdivision's facilities and required improvements.
(2) 
Facilities and required improvements must be developed or bonded in strict accordance with the standards established by this chapter and imposed by the hearing examiner.
(3) 
Any improvement work requiring review and approval by the county engineer/public works division shall not commence until the preliminary plat has been approved by the hearing examiner and until the improvement plans have been checked for accuracy and approved by the county engineer/public works division. As the improvement work is undertaken, the subdivider shall arrange all the inspections required by the county engineer/public works division. No stage of construction shall proceed until the preceding stage has been inspected.
(4) 
The approval of a preliminary plat shall not imply the approval to convey lots. Transferring of lots depicted on a preliminary plat shall not occur until a final plat has been recorded.
(5) 
A final plat in conformance with the approved preliminary plat must be submitted within the time period established in LCC § 17.05.140.
(6) 
Minor or Major Adjustments. Once a preliminary plat has been approved, no alterations shall be made without receiving additional approvals. Minor or major adjustments may be applied for by the plat applicant.
(a) 
Minor adjustments shall be addressed as a Type I application.
(b) 
Major adjustments shall be addressed as a Type III application. Major adjustments are alterations that are determined to be of a substantial nature by the administrator, and require reconsideration of one or more of the approval elements under LCC § 16.05.120.
(Ord. 1169 § 1, III, N, 2000; Ord. 1269 § 3, 2016; Ord. 1325 § 1 (Att. B), 2021)
The preparation of every preliminary plat shall be made by or under the direction of a land surveyor licensed by the state of Washington.
(Ord. 1169 § 1, III, O, 2000; Ord. 1269 § 3, 2016; Ord. 1325 § 1 (Att. B), 2021; Ord. 1367 Exh. C, 2025)