Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Critical Areas topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bothell staff refine Critical Areas Ordinance and SEPA thresholds after agency feedback; public hearing set
Summary
Staff presented revisions to Bothell's Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) and SEPA thresholds following Planning Commission review and agency comments from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and DNR; council supported a tiered riparian buffer approach and asked for consistency with local noxious‑weed lists.
City staff summarized updates to the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) and accompanying SEPA threshold exemptions at the Oct. 7 council meeting, reporting agency feedback and a planned public‑hearing schedule.
Planner staff said the Planning Commission reviewed draft changes on Sept. 17 and recommended several items council had previously discussed, including setting SEPA thresholds at the maximum allowed by state rules, adopting a tiered system of riparian management zone widths and incorporating a local noxious‑weed list into the code. Staff said they are also editing the draft to reflect technical comments received from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
WDFW requested additions such as an adaptive-management program to ensure no-net-loss of critical-area functions and clearer definitions and reporting specifications for riparian management zones and reasonable‑use exceptions. DNR urged consistent language across the draft and suggested referencing the Washington Geological Information Portal for geologic-hazard data. Staff said the next draft will incorporate those agency comments and return for a Planning Commission public hearing on Oct. 15 and a City Council public hearing on Oct. 21.
Council members welcomed the changes and specifically asked staff to prefer Snohomish County and King County noxious‑weed lists where relevant rather than only the state list, arguing county lists are more specific to local species and management priorities. One councilor said the tiered buffer approach aligned with the city's goals "to balance development as well as environmental protection."
No action was taken; staff will file the revised draft with agency edits and bring it forward for the scheduled hearings.
