Ordinance 3454-15 with Exhibits A- C

EVERETT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN functions each provides. The City shall maintain a policy and regulatory approach that mandates an overall no net loss in functions, values, or area for aquatic resource critical areas. The City's regulations should use the State definition of mitigation including a mitigation sequencing approach: avoid, minimize, rectify, reduce over time, and compensate for unavoidable impacts. The City should continue a policy approach which provides the highest level of protection for the aquatic resource critical areas which have the highest functions and values. Policy 2.15.23 Provide for wetland mitigation banking and support efforts to establish mitigation banks that would result in an overall improvement of aquatic or wetland functions and values within a watershed. Policy 2.15.24 Restoration and Enhancement. Because urban development has degraded the natural condition of many of the wetlands and stream systems in Everett and because new land developments or redevelopment may provide an opportunity for restoration and enhancement of certain wetlands and stream segments, the City should allow wetland or stream alteration when alteration results in restoration or enhancement of functions and values of altered or degraded wetlands and streams. The City should provide opportunities for restoration through watershed, basin, or subbasin mitigation strategies. Policy 2.15.25 Public Facilities. Because it is not always possible to avoid impacting water resources with certain vital public service facilities, encroachment into water resource areas for public facilities such as public streets, utilities, and public safety services should be avoided except when no feasible alternative exists, and such encroachment should be accomplished in a manner that assures the maximum possible protection of the natural system, and assures the safety of persons and properties. Policies for Fish and Wildlife Conservation Areas Policy 2.15.26 Protect and restore proposed, threatened, or endangered species and their habitat. Require preparation of biological assessments to assess potential impacts of development on listed species, and require preparation of habitat management plans when development proposals would result in impacts to fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas. See Planning Director Interpretations No. 2000-2 and 2011-1 for development in and adjacent to marine waters, the Snohomish River, streams, lakes, floodways, and special flood hazard areas. Policy 2.15.27 Prohibit creating new fish passage barriers and provide incentives to remove existing artificial barriers where feasible. Policy 2.15.28 Consider creating a system of fish and wildlife habitat with connections between larger habitat blocks and open spaces. This system should be mapped and designated as Fish and Wildlife Conservation Area. Policy 2.15.29 Protect riparian areas and riparian ecosystems to help reduce water temperatures by increasing shading, improving soil stability, and increasing terrestrial insect production for fish resources. LAND USE ELEMENT 52