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Planning commission reviews critical-areas update that keeps wetland buffers but narrows rules for exceptions
Summary
The Newcastle Planning Commission reviewed proposed updates to the critical-areas ordinance on Nov. 19 that mostly preserve current wetland buffer widths while clarifying when smaller buffers apply, adding a 10-foot building setback from buffers, and tightening mitigation and reporting requirements; staff said a GIS dashboard will show property-level impacts in January.
The Newcastle Planning Commission on Nov. 19 reviewed proposed changes to the city's critical-areas ordinance that leave the existing wetland buffer regime largely intact but spell out clearer criteria for which buffer level applies and when exceptions or mitigation options are available.
Director Erin Fitzgibbons told the commission staff used Department of Ecology guidance to keep wetland buffers "the same as what they currently are," while reorganizing the rules so applicants and staff know which buffer applies when certain minimization measures are used. "You can have this one. If you do these things, you get this moderate buffer. And if you don't, you get this high impact buffer," Fitzgibbons said, describing the code's new structure.
The package adds a…
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