Ordinance 3457-15 - Laserfiche WebLink

credit given for mitigation banking using the ratios described in subsection C.5 of this section as a guide. The amount of credit will be dependent upon the functions of the wetland being altered and the wetland being used for mitigation banking. The city, using the review process described in EMC Title 15, Local Project Review Procedures, may allow wetland mitigation banking under the following circumstances: i. When alteration is allowed pursuant to the "reasonable use" exception as provided in Section 37.050.13 of this chapter; ii. When alteration is allowed for a water -dependent or water -related use; iii. When on-site or off-site mitigation in the immediate vicinity of the project is not reasonable; iv. When the wetland being altered is of a lower quality and has lesser functions than the wetland which is being used for the mitigation banking. b. Wetland mitigation banks may be approved under the provisions of Chapter 173-700 WAC (currently a draft). For any wetland mitigation bank certified under Chapter 173-700 WAC, credits from a wetland bank may be approved for use as compensation for unavoidable impacts to wetlands when: i. The director determines that the wetland mitigation bank provides appropriate compensation for the authorized impacts. ii. The proposed use of credits is consistent with the terms and conditions of the bank's certification. iii. Replacement ratios for projects using bank credits shall be consistent with the terms and conditions of the bank's certification. iv. 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. is hereby amended to read 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. 16