RCW 36.70A.200 requires counties and cities planning under Washington's Growth Management Act to include a process in their comprehensive plans for identifying and siting 'essential public facilities' — those typically difficult to site, such as airports, state education facilities, regional transportation facilities, correctional facilities, solid waste handling facilities, and inpatient care facilities. No local comprehensive plan or development regulation may outright prohibit the siting of these essential public facilities. The Office of Financial Management maintains a list of essential state public facilities likely to be built within the next six years.Open full document
Notes
This Washington State statute requires counties and cities planning under RCW 36.70A.040 to include a process for identifying and siting essential public facilities, including airports, correctional facilities, solid waste handling facilities, and inpatient facilities. It prohibits local comprehensive plans or development regulations from precluding the siting of essential public facilities. The statute also addresses liability limitations, deadlines for siting secure community transition facilities, and consequences for failure to meet those deadlines.