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City planners outline state‑required critical areas ordinance update; WDFW guidance pushes riparian management zone approach
Summary
Planning staff described a state‑mandated update to Mill Creek's critical areas ordinance, recommending clarified rules for nonconforming structures, changes to trail exemptions, revised wetland buffer tables and adoption of WDFW riparian management zones (RMZs) based on site potential tree height.
Planning staff presented the 2025 update to the city's critical areas ordinance (CAO) on Oct. 28, explaining required changes to align local code with "best available science" and recent agency guidance.
Justin (planning staff) told council the update clarifies when maintenance and alterations of nonconforming structures are allowed, removes an automatic blanket exemption for trails and instead requires mitigation when a trail will affect critical‑area functions, and refines reasonable‑use exception procedures that determine minimum viable development on…
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