9908 18TH AVE W 2024-12-03 - Laserfiche WebLink

d. 1Vhen the wetland being altered is of a lower quality and has lesser functions than the wetland which is being used for the mitigation banking. Onsite or offsite mitigation in the immediate vicinity of the project is not reasonable. Wetland A and Wetland B and the associated buffers encumber the majority of the subject property and as such, the proposed development and impacts are necessary to support multi-family residential development of the subject property to increase the inventory of available housing in the Everett area. Wetland A in particular contains large amounts of non-native invasive species (reed canarygrass), and both wetlands lack an intact and functioning buffer and therefore contribute less in the way of habitat and water quality to the larger watershed than wetland created at the KFMB. Offsite mitigation in the immediate vicinity is not reasonable due to existing developments and private property restrictions. As such, the proposed purchase of mitigation bank credits from the KFMB to compensate for the fill of Wetland A and Wetland B is permitted under EMC 19.37.125.A.1. The KFMB was certified for use under Chapter 173-700 WAC December 23, 2019. In addition to the circumstances described above, per EMC 19.37.125.A.2, credits from a certified wetland mitigation bank may be approved for use as compensation for unavoidable wetland impacts when the following criteria are met: a. The director determines that the wetland mitigation bank provides appropriate compensation for the authorised impacts. The necessary direct impacts to Wetland A (11,041 square feet total) and Wetland B (502 square feet) will be compensated through the purchase of mitigation bank credits from the KFMB. As described above,onsite compensatory mitigation is not feasible due to the lack of available space on the subject property after accommodating for the proposed project. Private property restrictions and existing developments in the abutting parcels make nearby offsite wetland creation or enhancement infeasible and not ecologically practical. The proposed use of a mitigation bank will result in a net gain in ecological functions within the Cedar- Sammamish watershed. b. The proposed use of credits is consistent with the terms and conditions of the bank's certification. The proposed purchase of credits will be consistent with the terms and conditions of the bank's certification. c. Replacement ratios forprgects using bank credits shall be consistent with the terms and conditions of the bank's certification. The proposed direct wetland impacts will be compensated following the ratios established in the Mitigation Banking Instrument for the KFMB. Please see Section 2.3.3 "Proposed Mitigation Credits"in Chapter 2 for the proposed replacement ratios. d. Credits from a certified wetland mitigation bank may be used to compensate for impacts located within the service area specified in the bank's certification. In some cases, bank service areas may include portions of more than one adjacent drainage basin for specific wetland functions. 1345.0029—Benton Square 4 Soundview Consultants LLC Conceptual Mitigation Bank Use Plan April 1,2022