Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Council hears update on critical-area buffers; city may seek a departure from state best-available-science rules
Summary
City staff told the council the update to the critical-areas ordinance will take longer than anticipated and the city plans to hire a consultant. Staff said the city may pursue a formal 'departure' from the state's best-available-science recommendations to seek smaller stream buffers for some watercourses.
City planning staff told the Newcastle City Council on Oct. 7 that work to update the city’s critical-areas ordinance (CAO) is proceeding but will take more time than originally scheduled because the revisions are tied to grant requirements and technical work.
Director Fitzgibbons said the city is contracting with a consultant to prepare the "best available science" documentation the city needs for the CAO. She told council members the city is considering pursuing a formal "departure" from the state’s best-available-science…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
