Ordinance 2910-06 - Laserfiche WebLink

4.3.4 Mitigating Impacts of Development on Wetlands The wetland mapping completed for the Subarea Plan is not sufficient for purposes of project review (since boundaries were estimated and not delineated). At the time development is proposed on a site containing wetlands, a wetland delineation and study must be completed by a biologist with expertise in wetlands in compliance with Chapter 37 of the Zoning Code. Wetlands can change over time and incomplete wetland assessment data is available on some wetlands. When a project is proposed on a specific site, the wetland assessment(s) for the site must be updated/completed as part of the wetland delineation/study, using the Wetland and Buffer Functions Semi -Quantitative Assessment Methodology. (SEPA Land and Shoreline Use, Water, and Plant and Animal Policies) 2. Wetlands must be retained and buffers must be provided per the requirements of Chapter 37, or mitigation must occur. Where the applicant proposes alteration of the wetland or buffer, additional studies must be completed and the alterations must be approved by the Planning Director. The following wetland mitigation strategy will supersede the requirements of the Zoning Code: a. Wetlands that should be preserved and protected include: • Habitat Function Group 1 wetlands larger than 1 acre. • Wetlands located in a riparian corridor or wildlife corridor. • Wetlands that drain into an adjacent Habitat Function Group 1 wetland (such as Narbeck or Kasch Swamps) or regionally rare wetland types such as Kasch Bog. • Wetlands with unique plant or animal species present. • Wetlands located in significant groundwater recharge areas. If fill/alteration of these wetlands is proposed, the mitigation sequencing preference order found in Section 37.110 of the Zoning Code shall be followed. Avoiding impacts is preferred, especially in areas where habitats are rare, sensitive, or critical for key species of wildlife and where wetlands perform functions that are needed or limited in a drainage basin. Avoidance is perhaps most important in bogs and in forested wetlands. Surfacewater storage is a function that is limited in the southern half of the SW Everett Subarea. Preservation of wetlands with good storage capacity (such as Narbeck Swamp) is therefore a priority. Preservation or enhancement of the stormwater control and water quality improvement functions for wetlands is important in the industrial areas where pollution and large amounts of impervious surface are a problem. This is especially true because of normally limited on- site stormwater storage, flood attenuation, and water quality improvement in industrial areas. b. The City shall allow all other wetlands to be altered or filled without following the standard mitigation preference order, provided that compensation/mitigation occurs as approved by the Planning Director. Figure 4-1 (Figure M-1 in the EIS) shows the approximately 8 acres of wetlands that can potentially be filled under this policy, provided that unique plant and animal species are not present on these sites (see Condition 2.a. above). Mitigation shall include protection and maintenance of the flood/storm water control and water quality 7