Ordinance 2538-01 - Laserfiche WebLink

E. Standard Wetland Buffer Width Reduction. The planning director may, using the review process described in the City's Local Project Review Procedures Ordinance, reduce the standard wetland buffer width only when there has previously been substantial legal alteration of the wetland and/or buffer on the subject lot or adjoining lots. The planning director shall require buffer width averaging rather than allowing a buffer width reduction except when the proposal includes a wetland and buffer enhancement plan that improves the functional values of the buffer and the wetland. An enhanced buffer shall not result in more than a fifty percent reduction in the standard buffer width, and the reduced buffer shall not be less than the minimum dimension allowed by buffer width averaging. SECTION 49: That Section 11 of Ordinance No. 1838-91 (EMC 19.37.110 B(1)) which reads in part as follows: 1. Category I Wetlands. All category I wetlands shall be preserved except as provided in this chapter. The planning director, using Review Process II.C, may allow alteration of category I wetlands: a. Where alteration is allowed pursuant to Section 37.050 of this chapter: b. The alteration is solely to provide access to deep water for a water-dependent use or to expand an existing water-dependent use in an area which is designated as an urban environment by the shoreline master program, and the alteration does not act to degrade the functions of the wetland, or the alteration proposed has a reasonable likelihood of being fully mitigated; or c. The alteration is to allow a public park or public recreational use, or to provide public access to the shoreline within an area designated as an urban or conservancy/recreation environment by the shoreline master program, provided that there is no feasible and reasonable alternative to making the alteration and the alteration does not act to degrade the functions of the wetland, or the alteration proposed has a reasonable likelihood of being fully mitigated; d. Enhancement of wetlands is permitted where the wetlands being enhanced are in a degraded condition and the enhancement proposed is likely to provide substantial rehabilitation and improved functional values. BE AND THE SAME IS HEREBY AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS: 1. Category I Wetlands. All category I wetlands shall be preserved except as provided in this chapter. The planning director, using the review process as described in the City's Local Project Review Procedures Ordinance, may allow alteration of category I wetlands: a. Where alteration is allowed pursuant to Section 37.050 of this chapter: b. The alteration is solely to provide access to deep water for a water-dependent use or to expand an existing water-dependent use in an area which is designated as an urban environment by the shoreline master program, and the alteration does not act to degrade the functions of the wetland, or the alteration proposed has a reasonable likelihood of being fully mitigated; or 40