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Planning commission debates Critical Areas code changes, wells regulation and riparian buffer options
Summary
La Center staff presented draft environment and critical areas ordinance updates and a climate resiliency element; commissioners discussed a state-required density bonus for affordable housing on religious properties, whether to regulate private (type B) wells, and how to implement WDFW site-potential-tree-height riparian buffers (options: off-the-shelf BAS, parcel averaging, or citywide average).
Alec (staff/consultant) presented the draft environment element, modifications to the draft Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO), and a new, state-required climate resiliency subelement that must be incorporated into La Center's comprehensive plan. He reminded the commission that the city faces statutory deadlines for its periodic update and that a 14-day courtesy review period for these drafts closes Oct. 22.
On affordable housing the commission heard that state law requires jurisdictions to provide a density bonus for affordable housing developments on religious-organization-owned property. Alec said the proposal under consideration would allow a roughly 25% bonus in low-density residential zones (raising an example maximum from 5.8 to 7.3 units per acre) and a 40% bonus in medium-density zones (an example of 14 to 19.6 units per acre). He emphasized the state requires a bonus but does not set the percentage.…
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