Title
Critical Area Ordinance Update - Briefing
Recommended Action
No action requested.
Report
Issue:
The City is required to review and update as needed its Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) as part of the Comprehensive Plan Update to ensure the environmental regulations reflect the Best Available Science (BAS). Meeting is to acquaint the Commission with the regulations function, values, and application.
Staff Contact:
Nicole Floyd, Planning Manager, Community Planning and Economic Development, 360.570.3768
Presenter(s):
Nicole Floyd, Planning Manager, Community Planning and Economic Development
Background and Analysis:
Sites that are encumbered by critical areas (environmental constraints such as wetlands) are regulated by the Critical Area Ordinance which is a science-based set of regulations that protect environmentally sensitive areas through the use of buffers and similar limitations on development. The City is required to re-review emerging scientific methods to ensure our regulations are soundly based on science as a component of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment.
In 1990, with passage of the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA), comprehensive planning for critical areas became a requirement for cities. With each update, these regulations have continued to evolve to integrate the best available science regarding how to preserve and protect environmentally fragile areas. The CAO addresses five types of environmentally protected areas: Aquifer Recharge Areas, or drinking water /wellhead protection areas, important habitats and species, streams and important riparian areas, wetlands, and landslide hazard areas. Frequently flooded areas are addressed in a different section of the code but are considered a member of the CAO family. Marine shorelines and freshwater shorelines as regulated by the Shoreline Master Plan.
The City is obligated to conduct a technical review of the best available science and to then evaluate our development regulations for effectiveness in protecting the functions and values of critical areas. Such a review is currently underway and will likely result in minor modifications to the regulations to ensure compliance. A comprehensive scientific review was conducted 5 years ago in 2016. Due to that update, the amendments likely needed now are minor in nature. Staff will provide a presentation to help orient the Commission to the topic and discuss areas of interest.
Climate Analysis:
The update itself is unlikely to appreciably affect climate goals, but the overall Critical Area regulations are greatly impactful in reducing pollutants that would enter our waterways, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions etc.
Equity Analysis:
Much of the undeveloped land remaining in the City is affected by Critical Area regulations. These regulations help reduce pollution and ensure safe drinking water supply etc. These protections, in reducing land supply, intrinsically add cost to the price of already limited housing supply. Immediate effects are typically felt by the relatively affluent property owners who are able to afford land development. The proposed amendments are unlikely to have meaningful impact on issues related to equity.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Critical Areas are found throughout the City; how they are regulated could have an impact Citywide.
Options:
1. Receive the briefing regarding the Critical Area Ordinance Update.
2. Receive the briefing regarding the Critical Area Ordinance Update at a later date.
Financial Impact:
None, processing of these amendments is covered by the Community Planning & Economic Development annual budget.
Attachments:
None