A. The applicant shall submit an application and any required fees to the department. The department shall review the application and determine if it is complete. The application shall not be deemed filed until the department determines the application is complete and all required fees are paid.

B. Within five (5) working days of the filing of the application, the department shall provide a copy of the application to the SEPA responsible official for review.

C. After a SEPA exemption, determination of nonsignificance, or final environmental impact statement has been issued for an application, the department shall schedule a public hearing before the hearing examiner as provided in Chapter 2.30. The department shall give notice of the hearing as provided in Section 17.72.090.

D. The hearing examiner shall conduct a public hearing on the application and issue a decision as provided in Chapter 2.30. The decision on a special use permit shall be based on the decision criteria in Section 17.72.070. The decision on an unclassified use permit shall be based on the decision criteria in Section 17.72.080.

E. The applicant or any other party authorized to conduct activities or uses by the decision may begin activity or obtain other required approvals authorized by the decision of the hearing examiner on the application seven (7) days after the decision. Activity commenced before the expiration of the full appeal period provided in Section 2.30.130 is at the sole risk of the applicant or other party.

F. The decision of the hearing examiner on the application is the final decision of the city and may be appealed to the superior court as provided in Section 2.30.130.