Ordinance 3457-15 - Laserfiche WebLink

4. Structures, public roads, or other substantial improvements separate the subject upland property from the wetland and due to their height or width, prevent or impair the delivery of buffer functions to the wetland, in which cases the reduced buffer width shall reflect the buffer functions that can be delivered to the wetland; or 5. The wetland scores nineteen points or less for wildlife habitat. is hereby amended to read as follows: C. Standard Buffer Width Reduction for Category IV Wetlands. Buffer reductions are allowed; provided, that the applicant demonstrates the proposal meets criteria in subsections C.1 through C.3 and either CA or C.5 of this section. If the criteria are met, buffers may be reduced by up to twenty-five percent or no less than twenty-six feet. 1. The buffer area has less than fifteen percent slopes, the existing buffer provides minimal vegetative cover and cannot provide the minimum water quality or habitat functions, and enhancement is proposed consistent with the following criteria: a. A mitigation plan consistent with Sections 37.120.D, E and F is approved by the director, including, but not limited to, maintenance, monitoring and provisions for an assurance device; b. The plan shall include plant densities not less than five feet on center for shrubs and ten feet on center for trees; 2. A site-specific evaluation and documentation of buffer adequacy is based on consideration of the best available science and special consideration for the conservation or protection measures necessary to preserve or enhance anadromous fisheries consistent with WAC 365-195-900 through 365-195-925; and 3. Buffer width averaging is not utilized; and either 4. Structures, public roads, or other substantial improvements separate the subject upland property from the wetland and due to their height or width, prevent or impair the delivery of buffer functions to the wetland, in which cases the reduced buffer width shall reflect the buffer functions that can be delivered to the wetland; or 5. The wetland scores three or four points for wildlife habitat. SECTION 5: Subsection C.5 of Section 12 of Ordinance 2909-06 (EMC 19.37.120), which reads as follows: Avoiding Wetland Impacts. 5. Wetland Compensation Ratios. In approving alteration or relocation of a wetland, the city shall require that an area larger than the altered portion of the wetland be provided as compensation for destruction of the functions of the altered wetland and to ensure that such functions are replaced. The ratios in this section apply to creation, restoration, and enhancement which is in-kind (within the same hydrogeomorphic (HGM) class), on or adjacent to the site, timed prior to or concurrent with alteration, and has a high probability of success. The city may accept or recommend compensation which is off-site and/or out -of -kind, if the applicant can demonstrate that on-site compensation is infeasible due to constraints such as parcel size or wetland type or that a wetland of a different type or location is justified based on regional needs or functions. When mitigating allowed impacts to wetlands, the standard ratios in Table 37.2 shall be used, except as otherwise provided below in this subsection. 12