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Council directs staff to begin Critical Areas Ordinance update, citing state periodic-review and best-available-science requirements
Summary
The council voted unanimously to direct staff and the Planning Commission to begin a periodic update of Bellevue's Critical Areas Ordinance, including a best-available-science review, a gap analysis, outreach to tribes and environmental stakeholders, and a schedule to meet a state compliance deadline.
The Bellevue City Council voted to initiate a comprehensive update to the city's Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO), directing staff and the Planning Commission to begin a best-available-science review, a gap analysis and a public outreach process.
City planners told the council the Growth Management Act requires periodic review of local critical-areas protections and that the update must incorporate best available science. "It's kind of a three-step process: best available science review, gap analysis, and then proposed code amendments," said Nick Whipple, code and policy director in Development Services.
Scope and objectives: Staff said the update will look at wetlands, streams and…
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