Ordinance 2021-94 - Laserfiche WebLink

EVERETT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN LAND USE ELEMENT River and Port Gardner Bay are expected to water features. Certain limitations on land use411. undergo redevelopment. Housing needs and and development activities, as well as controls population growth are increasing the demand on the point source pollutant generators can for developable residential land and water reduce the potential for pollution of water 111 oriented open space and recreational resources. Land use standards which regulate amenities. Competing interests must be lot coverage, setbacks, preservation and balanced with protection of these water enhancement of native vegetation, and resources. encourage "natural engineering solutions" to control and treat stormwater runoff can Land development affects the natural protect Everett's water resources by reducing hydrological cycle through clearing, grading, quantities and velocities of stormwater runoff filling, covering of land, soil compaction, and by removing the pollutants carried into the piping of natural drainage systems, and storm drainage system. Construction manage- planting of ornamental landscaping. All of ment methods which are preventive in nature these activities reduce the land's natural and use the best technology available can be capacity to absorb, store and convey storm used to reduce drainage and water quality water. When this capacity is diminished, problems. Land use regulations must strike a surface water runoff and the potential for balance between the variety of public and flooding and erosion is increased. Ground private needs and the natural constraints of water recharge is also reduced. Ground water environmentally sensitive areas. The City and resources in Everett are valuable for storing private property owners must take into rainfall occurring during the wet seasons and consideration the natural environmental limita- slowly releasing it to streams, lakes and tions and the impacts of land development wetlands during the dry summer season, which activities on aquatic resources when has a moderating and beneficial effect upon determining reasonable use of property. stream flows, fisheries and wildlife habitat. Policies for Water Resources. Land which is cleared of vegetation and exposed to rainfall is more susceptible to 1.15.8 Preservation. Because alteration of erosion. Eroded soils can reduce the water natural water resources can result in storage and conveyance capacity of natural environmental degradation, increased costs to drainage systems, thereby increasing potential the public, flooding, erosion, sedimentation, flooding and hazards to people and properties. and damage to water quality, fish and wildlife Eroded soils also cause sedimentation which habitat, Everett's natural water resources impacts streams used for spawning. should be protected, maintained and enhanced. I Urban land uses and developments can 1.15.9 Protective Requirements. Because degrade water quality. Deterioration can land use and development activities can create occur when pollutants such as sediments, impacts upon the quality of streams, lakes, fertilizers, organic and toxic materials are wetlands and ground water aquifers, the City discharged into surface runoff. Contaminants should adopt land development regulations from various land use activities, streets and which establish adequate protections to water parking areas are carried into the storm resources, which include: drainage system by rainfall. Polluted waters ig! cause health problems, reduce wildlife habitat value and detract from aesthetic qualities of LU-54 I