Docket Request FAQ's

Common Questions

Below are some frequently asked questions related to the annual docket process. Any additional questions can be directed to the staff contact.

What is the Comprehensive Plan?

Sammamish is a city planning under the Growth Management Act (Chapter 36.70A RCW). Therefore, the City must adopt a Comprehensive Plan and review and update it every ten years. The Comprehensive Plan includes goals, objectives, policies, actions, and standards. These are intended to guide day-to-day decisions by elected officials and local government staff.

The Comprehensive Plan is the City's official policy statement on how it will manage growth. The City of Sammamish adopted its first Comprehensive Plan in 2003 as well as full updates in 2015 and 2024. The 2024 Comprehensive Plan serves as a framework for decisions over a 20-year planning period. It focuses on land use, housing, capital facilities, utilities, parks and recreation, and environment and conservation. It includes mandated and optional elements.

What are Development Regulations?

The Revised Code of Washington 36.70A.030(7) defines development regulations as the controls placed on development or land use activities by a county or City, including, but not limited to:

• Zoning ordinances,
• Critical areas ordinances,
• Shoreline master programs,
• Official controls,
• Planned unit development ordinances,
• Subdivision ordinances, and
• Binding site plan ordinances
• And any related amendments to those items.

Sammamish's development regulations are found in the Sammamish Development Code.

How is a Site-Specific Land Use Map Amendment Different From a Zoning Reclassification?

A Site-Specific Land Use Map Amendment changes the Comprehensive Plan's future land use designation for a property/properties. A zone reclassification changes the zoning of a property on the current zoning map.

If City Council approves the amendment proposal, approval will be contingent on the Zone Reclassification approval.

Applicants have 90 days after City Council approval to submit a Zone Reclassification Application. A Zone Reclassification is a Type 3 land use action. It is subject to a hearing and decision by the Hearing Examiner.

What Happens After I Submit a Request?

Once your request is received and all fees have been paid, staff will review your request for the following:

• Completeness (ensuring all required materials are provided and sufficient information is included)
• Whether the request meets the requirements of the Sammamish Municipal Code
• Alignment of the request with the City work plan, current policies, and programmatic priorities; and
• Whether City staff have the time and resources to do a full review of the request the following year.

The above assessment, along with the information provided in your request, will be integrated into a presentation. The information will be presented to the Planning Commission and City Council.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend the Planning Commission and City Council meetings. This gives them the opportunity to provide comments on their requests if they choose to do so.

Who Decides Whether an Amendment Proposal Is Approved?

The City Council has decision-making authority over all Comprehensive Plan AND development regulation amendment proposals. The City Council has broad authority to approve, deny, modify, or defer an amendment proposal.