A. Approving Authorities. The approving authority, as designated in Table 20.84-1, shall approve, conditionally approve, or deny applications based upon evidence presented by the applicant, by making the applicable findings required for a particular permit or approval in accordance with the requirements of this chapter and other laws and regulations. The table identifies review, recommending, final, and appeal authorities for each application. A final action of the approving authority may be appealed to the Appeal Authority, pursuant to procedures set forth in CMC 20.84.160.

B. Referral Authority. The director of community development may forward an application for a minor development review permit or other director action to the planning commission in order to set the matter for a hearing before the planning commission.

C. Authority for Environmental Review. The designated approving authority shall be the approving authority for environmental assessments, with the exception that any director-level permit or action that requires a negative declaration, mitigated negative declaration, or environmental impact report shall be heard by the planning commission.