Title
CAO Phase 2 - Locally Important Species and Habitat
Recommended Action
Information only. No action requested.
Report
Issue:
Briefing on CAO Phase 2 - Locally Important Species and Habitat
Staff Contact:
Linda Bentley, Senior Planner, Community Planning & Development, 360.570.3746
Presenter(s):
Linda Bentley, Senior Planner, Community Planning & Development
Background and Analysis:
During the update to the City's Comprehensive Plan in 2014, citizens and elected officials expressed a desire to protect "locally important species and habitat." The City included relevant goals and policies in the adopted Comprehensive Plan and included further work on that task as part of the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) update. The original CAO update deadline of June 30, 2016, did not leave enough time to thoroughly consider possible changes to protections in the Important Habitat and Species section of Olympia Municipal Code (OMC) 18.32.300 and to also complete the updates required by the Growth Management Act (GMA). Consequently, the City divided the tasks into the following phases:
* Phase 1: The update required in the GMA, which was adopted by City Council July 19 (2nd Reading August 16)
* Phase 2: Investigation of options available to protect "locally important habitat and species"
* Phase 3: Shoreline Master Program amendment
Phase 2 Process
City and consultant ESA will look at ways to protect our locally important species and their habitats. ESA prepared a technical memo, attached, outlining:
* gaps in current federal, state and local regulatory protections
* legal bases for protecting species and habitats
* current best practices in comparable cities
* recommendations for best ways to protect our species and habitat
Some species and habitats are known; others may be identified and considered during technical working group meetings, public workshops and other meetings or hearings.
Phase 3 - Shoreline Master Program Update
Under provisions of the Washington...
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