Title
Deliberations, Amendments to Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO), Locally Important Habitat and Species, and Shoreline Master Program
Recommended Action
Recommend to City Council adoption of proposed amendments to the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) and related code sections and to the Shoreline Master Program.
Report
Issue:
Whether to recommend to City Council adoption of proposed amendments to the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) and related code sections and to the Shoreline Master Program.
Staff Contact:
Linda Bentley, Senior Planner, Community Planning and Development, 360.570.3746
Presenter(s):
Linda Bentley, Senior Planner, Community Planning and Development
Background and Analysis:
In 2015, the Land Use and Environment Committee (LUEC) directed staff to review potential additional protections for locally important habitat and species after the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) mandated update to the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) was completed, which occurred in August 2016.
After working with consultant ESA, staff presented information on protections for locally important habitat and species to LUEC on September 15 and November 17, 2016 and to Planning Commission on August 8, 2016, and January 9, 2017. Staff hosted a public open house to discuss the proposed amendments on January 18, 2017 and the Planning Commission held a public hearing on January 23, 2017. Any written comments received by noon, January 27, 2017, and the additional information requested of staff will be presented before or at the meeting for consideration as part of the Commission's deliberations.
The City issued a SEPA Determination of Non-Significance (DNS) for the recommended changes on January 10, 2017, and sent the 60-day notice of intent to adopt, as required by state statute, to the Department of Commerce on January 11, 2017.
Proposed Protections
Staff and consultant believe that the city's existing CAO and SMP regulations will adequately protect m...
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