Everett planners review major reorganization of critical areas code; staff aims for draft ordinance this fall

At a Oct. 7 Everett Planning Commission meeting, staff outlined a proposed rewrite and reorganization of the city's critical areas regulations (chapter 19.37), saying the changes are intended to make rules clearer for staff, applicants and the public while aligning definitions with state guidance.

"I'm Teddy Holbrook, environmental planner," said Teddy Holbrook, who led the briefing. Holbrook told the commission the rewrite would reorganize the chapter into a short introduction and five articles covering review procedures, geologic hazards, wetlands, special flood hazard areas and fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas. He said the work is largely organizational but noted one potentially significant clarification: a vegetative buffer standard that would define what constitutes an "intact native vegetated community." Holbrook said the vegetative buffer clarification "would be more of a clarification" than a wholesale change.

The staff presentation explained that the critical areas update must follow the Growth Management Act…