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Council pauses critical-area update after hours of testimony; refers Ordinance 24-097 to committee of the whole
Summary
Ordinance 24-097, a Comprehensive update to the county's critical-area regulations (wetlands, streams, fish and wildlife habitat, geologic hazard areas and critical aquifer recharge areas), drew extensive public and agency comment. The council kept the record open and voted to refer the ordinance back to Committee of the Whole for more review.
Snohomish County Council paused formal action on Ordinance 24-097 after an extensive staff briefing and more than two hours of public testimony from tribes, state agencies, environmental groups, builders and residents. The ordinance, which would update county code for wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas, geologically hazardous areas, critical aquifer recharge areas and flood hazard permits, remains in the public record and was referred to the County Council’s Committee of the Whole for further review.
Ryan Countryman, council staff, summarized the ordinance and said Planning and Development Services proposed changes would generally increase site-specific protections for critical-area functions and values. Countryman told the council the Department of Ecology updated wetland guidance in 2022 and the Department of Commerce updated guidance in 2023; staff described the state’s “best available science” process as set out in WAC 365-195. Countryman…
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