Land Use Mediation Program | Administration
21.09.040 Land Use Mediation Program A. Introduction
or the community development director may at their own discretion or at the request of any party or interested person request mediation (see SDC 21.09.040E. Mediation shall occur only when it is requested or accepted by at least one party and by one additional party or interested person with an opposing position. When the issue proposed for mediation involves the disposition or other action to be taken on an application, mediation shall occur only if the affected applicant agrees to be a participant in the mediation process. 2. Any objection to an inconsistency between a mediation proposed to be conducted pursuant to these rules and a procedural requirement of the Sammamish Municipal Code shall be raised with the community development director within 10 calendar days of the receipt of information that would apprise a reasonable person of such inconsistency. Objections not raised within 10 calendar days shall be deemed waived.
1. Purpose.
Mediation is an entirely voluntary process by which two or more parties and/or interested persons, with the assistance of an impartial person (the mediator), attempt to reach a full or partial agreement on a disputed matter. Persons participate in the mediation process only if, and only to the extent, they choose to do so. A participant is bound by the outcome of the mediation process only if that person, or his or her duly authorized representative, approves the mediated agreement (see SDC 21.09.040P. In appropriate cases, mediation may assist in the resolution of land use issues at a substantial savings in time and money to the parties, interested persons, the City of Sammamish, and the general public. Mediation is also available as an alternative to a formal appeal hearing to resolve other disputes between individuals and the City of Sammamish.
C. Notice of availability of mediation
The City of Sammamish shall take reasonable steps to advise all persons who file applications or appeals that are within the jurisdiction of the hearing examiner that mediation of disputes is available. A “notice of availability of mediation” shall be contained in or attached to application and appeal forms that are provided by the City of Sammamish and shall be contained in the initial mailing to surrounding property owners and the posted notice of every land use application within the jurisdiction of the City. A similar notice also shall be incorporated in the first notice issued by the responsible City official announcing the scheduled date of any public hearing for which mediation is available to resolve disputed issues.
2. Interpretation.
These rules shall be interpreted to facilitate and encourage use of the mediation process at the earliest practical time following the identification of a conflict or dispute that the affected parties or persons are unable to resolve through direct negotiation.
B. When mediation is available
1. As to any application for a land use permit or an appeal of a land use action that is or could become the subject of a public hearing, the responsible City official, the City council,
Effective | January 1, 2022
Title 21: Sammamish Development Code | 645
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