Ordinance 3454-15 with Exhibits A- C

EVERETT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN a) clearing, grading and filling restrictions in areas where such activities will impact water resources and associated habitat areas. b) stormwater runoff controls that will prevent erosion, sedimentation and the discharge of pollutants into the natural drainage system. c) preservation and enhancement of vegetation as a means of protecting both water quality and wildlife habitat. d) construction management practices that reduce the potential for erosion and water quality impact both during and after land development and construction. Policy 2.15.15 Encourage low impact development methods where appropriate, such as clustering to retain native vegetation, use of permeable pavement, soil amendment, green roofs, green streets, and other methods. Policy 2.15.16 Buffers. Because the buffers adjoining wetlands and streams perform many valuable functions, including soil stabilization and erosion control, filtering of sediments and toxic chemicals, moderating storm runoff impacts, moderating water temperatures, protecting and providing fish and wildlife habitat and food sources, and providing a barrier to encroachment and destruction, the City should require sufficient buffer width and functions to achieve no net loss of critical area functions and values. Policy 2.15.17 Emphasize the protection of those buffer functions of greatest importance within the Urban Growth Area. Policy 2.15.18 Maintain a conservative approach which provides stringent buffer requirements for all streams that exhibit salmonid use. Policy 2.15.19 Protect riparian areas and buffers that have significant connections between other critical areas and/or large blocks of open space. Policy 2.15.20 Provide for buffers with non-linear edges that will increase wildlife functions when proposed development is adjacent to large blocks of existing open space or critical areas with a high function for wildlife. Policy 2.15.21 Recognize that buffers essential to provide wildlife habitat for large mammals do not currently exist except in the Snohomish River estuary, and are not feasible in Everett's urban environment. Provide adequate buffers for species that can adapt to the urban environment. Policy 2.15.22 Compensation/Mitigation. Because streams and wetlands in Everett provide numerous beneficial functions and it is difficult to recreate these functions and values, the City should encourage the retention of streams and wetlands and their buffers in a natural state. Avoidance of adverse impacts is the best way to maintain existing critical area functions. When avoidance is not feasible, and streams or wetlands are permitted to be relocated or altered, the impacts caused by relocation or alteration should be compensated for by replacing the valuable LAND USE ELEMENT 51