Planning staff briefed the commission on the periodic update to the county’s Critical Areas Ordinance, telling commissioners the Department of Ecology and FEMA mapping revisions will inform the process and that the county received state grant funding to support the work.

Staff said the state provided roughly $150,000 to assist the county with the required periodic update of the Critical Areas Ordinance — described as two tranches (about half now and half later) — that will include statutory corrections required by state law. The department of ecology is redoing FEMA maps and mapping alluvial fan areas; staff said those maps may drive changes in critical-area protections and possibly later adjustments to zoning maps.

Why it matters: Critical areas rules cover wetlands, floodplains, fish and wildlife habitat and other resource protections. Staff said Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will be involved in the update, and that the county will follow the same process used for prior shoreline updates: produce a draft, solicit public comment, and adopt statutory corrections where required.

Next steps: Staff will coordinate with Ecology and WDFW and proceed with the periodic update process, with public outreach and hearings as required by state and county procedures.