Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Critical Areas Ordinance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Milton planning commission recommends updates to critical areas ordinance
Summary
After a public hearing and staff presentation, the Milton Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend amendments to Milton Municipal Code chapters 18.06 and 18.16 to update definitions, align with state rules and add clarifying reporting requirements for critical areas (PLN20250007).
The Milton Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council adopt proposed amendments to Milton Municipal Code chapters 18.06 and 18.16, part of a periodic update to the city's critical areas ordinance known as PLN20250007.
Planning staff opened the public hearing by saying, "This is the required periodic update to the critical areas ordinance," and outlined changes that include updated citations to state rules, a new definition for "no net loss" drawn from Pierce County, and a new table in section 18.16.520(a) summarizing the types of technical reports applicants must submit.
The amendments largely align local code language with current state guidance in the RCWs and WACs, staff said. Staff told commissioners the city verified it can require a pre-application meeting and therefore left that requirement in the draft rather than changing it to a nonmandatory phrasing. Staff also said it had received comments from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and had amended the mineral resource lands definition in response.
Commissioners discussed how the code uses the phrase "best available science" and how that standard is applied. "The idea is that you're supposed to figure out what is the most relevant, what's the most current, what's the best available science," planning staff said, explaining that the term reflects ongoing changes in scientific mapping and field studies and is implemented through critical areas reports prepared by qualified experts.
There were no members of the public who spoke during the hearing. Planning staff noted the public comment period remained open through Oct. 28 and said additional agency comments received before that date could be incorporated into the draft prior to transmittal to the council.
Commissioner Johnson moved to recommend the proposed amendments to the city council; Commissioner Boyle seconded the motion. The commission voted unanimously to forward the package as recommended.
What the commission forwarded to council includes revised definitions (including the Pierce County-based "no net loss" definition), updated WAC citations, an added summary table of required technical reports in 18.16.520(a), and clarifications that change references from "department" to "city" where appropriate. Staff said they will incorporate any further agency comments received during the open comment period before sending the final package to council.
The commission's recommendation is advisory; the City Council will perform the final review and may accept, amend or reject the proposed amendments. The planning staff record for PLN20250007 shows the public comment period remains open until Oct. 28.
