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Newcastle planning commission moves to tighten stream protections, plans January hearing
Summary
The commission reviewed a 'best available science' addendum that would widen riparian buffers (proposed 150 feet for fish-bearing streams, 100 feet for smaller streams), discussed nonconforming-structure allowances to reduce homeowner hardship, and agreed to a January public hearing and February council recommendation after GIS mapping of affected parcels.
Newcastle — The Newcastle Planning Commission spent the bulk of its Dec. 17 meeting reviewing proposed updates to the city's Critical Areas Ordinance intended to align local stream protections with recently updated state guidance.
Consultant Doug (introduced by staff) summarized a 'best available science' addendum for fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas and described two approaches to riparian buffers: the state's site-potential-tree-height method and the city's traditional water-type predictive model. "Best available science is a key requirement in Washington state law," he told the commission, and warned that applying the site-potential-tree-height method could dramatically increase the number of fully encumbered parcels compared with…
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