Coupeville Town Council is considering changing the way it approves some of its land-use applications.

During last week’s council meeting, Town Planner Owen Dennison presented an option to start contracting a hearing examiner to approve quasi-judicial matters such as preliminary long subdivisions, binding site plans, shoreline permits, conditional use permits and variances.

Currently, the Coupeville Planning Commission, which consists of a board appointed by the mayor and council, makes these decisions.

Under a hearing examiner process, the planning commission would still be responsible for making legislative recommendations such as amendments to the comprehensive plan and Shoreline Master Program.

A hearing examiner is typically a land use attorney who is hired or contracted to conduct hearings and issue either final, appealable decisions or recommendations to the council, Dennison said.

Coupeville Town Councilwoman Diane Binder said this isn’t the first time the idea has been presented to the council.

She said, that at one time, the process was recommended to the council because it posed some legal protections to the town.

Councilwoman Pat Powell also favored exploring the idea because she said it would bring some consistency to the process.

Every time the planner changes and the commission changes, it brings new opinions, she said.

“While there are potential benefits to the development review process in terms of consistency and risk mitigation, there are costs to a hearing examiner system as well,” Dennison said.

He estimated the cost of contracting a hearing examiner would likely range from $2,000-$4,000. This is in addition to the cost of staff at Town Hall.

If adopted, it would be anticipated the cost of the hearing examiner would be paid by the applicant.

On average, the town would need to use the hearing examiner a few times a year.

The process wouldn’t happen overnight.

Dennison said it would require ordinance changes, a hiring process and other requirements to change over.

Town council were overall in favor of exploring the option further.