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City staff outline required updates to Critical Areas and Floodplain ordinances; public review set for fall
Summary
City planning staff briefed council on a required update to the Critical Areas Ordinance and a companion update to the Floodplain Management Ordinance to reflect best available science and to maintain compliance with state and federal programs.
City planning staff presented a combined overview of the current update effort for the city’s Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) and the Floodplain Management Ordinance (Chapter 16.18). Senior planner Sarah Pizzo and Economic & Community Director Christy Osborne explained that state law and periodic review require the city to incorporate best available science and state guidance in updates to regulations that protect wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat, geologically hazardous areas, critical aquifer recharge areas and frequently flooded areas.
Pizzo said the city hired consulting firm Facet to prepare best‑available‑science documentation and a gap analysis; those documents were provided to council as attachments. Staff has drafted ordinance language and will complete SEPA review, forward a draft to the Washington State Department of Commerce for 60‑day review,…
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