At the hearing any representative of the county, city or town, or any other person may appear and be heard even though such official or person is not an abutting property owner. Such hearing may, at the option of the highway authority, be conducted in accordance with federal laws and regulations governing highway design public hearings. The members of such authority shall preside, or may designate some suitable person to preside as examiner. The authority shall introduce by competent evidence a summary of the proposal for the establishment of a limited access facility and any evidence that supports the adoption of the plan as being in the public interest. At the conclusion of such evidence, any person entitled to notice who has entered a written appearance shall be deemed a party to this hearing for purposes of this chapter and may thereafter introduce, either in person or by counsel, evidence and statements or counterproposals bearing upon the reasonableness of the proposal. Any such evidence and statements or counterproposals shall receive reasonable consideration by the authority before any proposal is adopted. Such evidence must be material to the issue before the authority and shall be presented in an orderly manner.

Effective date—1982 c 189: See note following RCW 34.12.020.

Effective dates—Severability—1981 c 67: See notes following RCW 34.12.010.