Title
UPDATE OF CRITICAL AREA REGULATIONS
COUNCIL STRATEGIC INITIATIVE ADDRESSED:
Council Initiative: Provide sustainable water quality & environmental infrastructure
CITY ATTORNEY REVIEW: N/A
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
Cities and counties are mandated under the State Growth Management Act (GMA) to have Critical Areas Ordinances. Each city and county is required to undertake a review process of their CAO every eight years. Longview’s latest update is due June 30, 2017. Critical area regulations address wetlands, geologically hazardous areas, fish & wildlife conservation area, frequently flooded areas and critical aquifer recharge areas.
The City hired Ecological Land Services to assist the City in the update. On March 6, a draft update was sent to the State Department of Commerce who then sent it on to other State departments for a 60 day review period. The State Department of Ecology submitted comments. City and ELS staff communicated with Ecology staff several times that resulted is some minor changes to the draft regulations.
Basically, the latest iteration of the critical area regulations provides some updates (e.g. definitions, wetland rating system, flood hazard mapping) and helps streamline the code. Staff does not believe there are any changes that will have a major effect on how land is developed in the City. However, the code will be consistent with State law and will be more easily understood.
The City Council held two workshops during the update process (November 3, 2016 and April 27, 2017). The Planning Commission held several workshops during the update process. On June 7, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on the draft. No one from the public spoke. After the public hearing, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the draft.
Please not that this update no longer covers critical areas within shorelines jurisdiction (Cowlitz and Columbia rivers & Lake Sa...
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