HomeMy WebLinkAbout2-17.ISC 67-6535TITLE 67
STATE GOVERNMENT AND STATE AFFAIRS
CHAPTER 65
LOCAL LAND USE PLANNING
67-6535. APPROVAL OR DENIAL O F ANY APPLICATION TO BE BASED UPON
EXPRESS STANDARDS AN D TO BE IN WRITING. (1) The approval or denial of any application
required or authorized pursuant to this chapter shall be based upon standards and criteria which
shall be set forth in the comprehensive plan, zoning ordinance or other appropriate ordinance or
regulation of the city or county. Such approval standards and criteria shall be set forth in express
terms in land use ordinances in order that permit applicants, interested residents and decision
makers alike may know the ex press standards that must be met in order to obtain a requested permit
or approval. Whenever the nature of any decision standard or criterion allows, the decision shall
identify aspects of compliance or noncompliance with relevant approval standards and cr iteria in the
written decision.
(2) The approval or denial of any application required or authorized pursuant to this chapter
shall be in writing and accompanied by a reasoned statement that explains the criteria and standards
considered relevant, states the relevant contested facts relied upon, and explains the rationale for the
decision based on the applicable provisions of the comprehensive plan, relevant ordinance and
statutory provisions, pertinent constitutional principles and factual information con tained in the
record.
(a) Failure to identify the nature of compliance or noncompliance with express approval standards
or failure to explain compliance or noncompliance with relevant decision criteria shall be grounds
for invalidation of an approved perm it or site -specific authorization, or denial of same, on appeal.
(b) Any applicant or affected person seeking judicial review of compliance with the provisions of
this section must first seek reconsideration of the final decision within fourteen (14) days . Such
written request must identify specific deficiencies in the decision for which reconsideration is
sought. Upon reconsideration, the decision may be affirmed, reversed or modified after compliance
with applicable procedural standards. A written decisi on shall be provided to the applicant or
affected person within sixty (60) days of receipt of the request for reconsideration or the request is
deemed denied. A decision shall not be deemed final for purposes of judicial review unless the
process required in this subsection has been followed. The twenty -eight (28) day time frame for
seeking judicial review is tolled until the date of the written decision regarding reconsideration or
the expiration of the sixty (60) day reconsideration period, whichever occu rs first .
(3) It is the intent of the legislature that decisions made pursuant to this chapter should be
founded upon sound reason and practical application of recognized principles of law. In reviewing
such decisions, the courts of the state are directed to consider the proceedings as a whole and to
evaluate the adequacy of procedures and resultant decisions in light of practical considerations with
an emphasis on fundamental fairness and the essentials of reasoned decision making. Only those
whose challe nge to a decision demonstrates actual harm or violation of fundamental rights, not the
mere possibility thereof, shall be entitled to a remedy or reversal of a decision. Every final decision
rendered concerning a site -specific land use request shall provid e or be accompanied by notice to
the applicant regarding the applicant’s right to request a regulatory taking analysis pursuant to
section 67-8003, Idaho Code. An applicant denied an application or aggrieved by a final decision
concerning matters identified in section 67-6521(1)(a), Idaho Code, may, within twenty -eight (28)
days after all remedies have been exhausted under local ordinance, seek judicial review under the
procedures provided by chapter 52, title 67 , Idaho Code. An appeal shal l be from the final decision
and not limited to issues raised in the request for reconsideration.