The Sequim Planning Department is located with the Public Works Department at 615 N. 5th Ave. Normal work hours are 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday. We can be contacted by using our Citizen Input Form, by FAX (360.681.0552) or you can call us at 360.683.4908.

The City "Planning Agency" is enabled and governed by state law, RCW 36A.63. Land use planning authority is distributed between staff, the Planning Commission, the Board of Adjustment and the City Council.

STAFF
The Planning Department Staff consists of professional planners and clerical assistants. The staff assists the public for compliance of development and activity proposals with the Comprehensive Plan and City Codes, primarily Title 16, Environmental, Title 17, Subdivisions, Title 18, Zoning and Title 20 Land Use and Development Administration. They also serve as staff to the Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment and City Council by processing application, developing reports and recommendations and transmitting recommendations from one city body to another.

Planning staff also coordinates with other City departments to insure zoning compliance with permits and projects processed by those departments and represents the City at other selected agencies such as the Regional Transportation Planning Organization and the Lead Entity Group for salmon protection.

PLANNING COMMISSION
The Planning Commission is comprised of seven citizen members appointed by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the city Council. The staggered terms are for four years. The position receives no compensation and is open to both residents and non-residents. Only two non-residents may be appointed at any one time.

The regular Planning Commission meetings are the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 6:00 PM. The meetings are held in the City Council Chambers and are open to the public.

The Planning Commission is charged with maintaining the Comprehensive Plan and advising the City Council on amendments to the plan. The Commission also reviews and approves certain development applications such as subdivisions and use permits or advises the City council on development applications that require council approval.

BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
The Board of Adjustment is comprised of five citizen members appointed by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the city Council. The staggered terms are for three years. The position receives no compensation and is open to both residents and non-residents. The regular Board of Adjustment meetings are the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 7:00 PM. The meetings are held in the City Council Chambers and are open to the public. Meetings are not typically held if there are no applications in process.

Duties of the Board include hearing zoning variance applications and appeals of staff decisions. Board Decisions may be appealed to the Superior Court. In other agencies, such as Clallam County, the Board duties are assigned to a Hearings Examiner.

CITY COUNCIL
The land use planning responsibilities of the Council, as the legislative body of the City, includes adoption of all City land use subdivision and development codes and regulations. The Council also has approval responsibility for certain applications, primarily legislative, such as Comprehensive Plan and zoning amendments. The council also hears appeals of Planning Commission decisions approves final subdivision maps and approves annexation petitions.