20.08.020 Initial SEPA Analysis.
A. The City shall also review the development application under the requirements of the State Environmental Policy Act (“SEPA”), Chapter 43.21C RCW, the SEPA Rules, Chapter 197-11 WAC, and the City Environmental Policy Ordinance, Chapter 17.10, and shall:
1. Determine whether the applicable regulations require studies that adequately analyze all of the development application’s specific probable adverse environmental impacts;
2. Determine if the applicable regulations require measures that adequately address and/or mitigate such environmental impacts;
3. Determine whether additional studies are required and/or whether the development application should be conditioned with additional mitigation measures; and
4. Provide prompt and coordinated review by government agencies and the public on compliance with applicable environmental laws and comprehensive plan, including mitigation for specific project impacts that have not been considered and addressed at the comprehensive plan or development regulation level.
B. In its review of a development application, the City may determine that the requirements for environmental analysis, protection and mitigation measures in the applicable development regulations, comprehensive plan and/or in other applicable local, state or federal laws provide adequate analysis of and mitigation for the specific adverse environmental impacts of the application.
C. If the City bases or conditions its approval of the development application on compliance with the requirements or mitigation measures described in subsection A of this section, the City shall not impose additional mitigation under SEPA during project review.
D. A comprehensive plan, subarea plan, development regulation or other applicable local, state or federal law adequately addresses an impact if the City has identified the specific adverse environmental impacts through the planning and review processes under Chapter 36.70A RCW and Chapter 43.21C RCW, and:
1. The impacts have been avoided or otherwise mitigated; or
2. The City has designated as acceptable certain levels of service, land use designations, development standards or other land use planning required or allowed by Chapter 36.70A RCW.
E. In its decision whether a specific adverse environmental impact has been addressed by an existing rule or law of another agency with jurisdiction with environmental expertise with regard to a specific environmental impact, the City shall consult orally or in writing with that agency and may expressly defer to that agency. In making this deferral, the City shall base or condition its development application approval on compliance with these other existing rules or laws.
F. Nothing in this section limits the authority of the City in its review or mitigation of a project to adopt or otherwise rely on environmental analyses and requirements under other laws, as provided for by Chapter 43.21C RCW.
G. The City shall also review the application under Title 17, the City Environmental Regulations Ordinance.