Title
Approval of an Ordinance to Amend the Critical Areas Ordinance and Shoreline Master Program
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
The Planning Commission recommends amending OMC 18.32.500, 18.32.515, 18.02 and 18.20; and amendments to the Shoreline Master Plan. The Planning Commission forwards to the City Council the draft amendments to OMC 18.32.300-330 (locally important species protections) with no recommendation.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve on second reading, adopting amendments to the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) and related code sections, and to the Shoreline Master Program.
Report
Issue:
Whether to adopt proposed amendments to the CAO and related code sections, and to the Shoreline Master Program, and whether to adopt additional protections for locally important species including the Great Blue Heron.
Staff Contact:
Leonard Bauer, Deputy Director, Community Planning and Development, 360.570.3746
Presenter(s):
Leonard Bauer, Deputy Director, Community Planning and Development
Background and Analysis:
Background and analysis has not changed from first to second reading.
The Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) required the City to update its CAO in 2016 to ensure it was consistent with the Best Available Science (BAS) and to protect anadromous fish. In 2015, the Land Use and Environment Committee (LUEC) directed staff to conduct an update of the City's CAO in two phases:
* Phase 1 - the state-mandated update to include BAS and protect anadromous fish. Phase 1 was completed by City Council adoption of Ordinance 7030 on August 16, 2016 (see Attachment).
* Phase 2 - review potential additional protections for locally important habitat and species, including Great Blue Heron.
State law requires that protection measures for critical areas that occur along shorelines must be included in the City's Shoreline Master Program (RCW 36.70A.480). So, to ensure the City's CAO provisions also apply in shoreline a...
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