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Everett planning staff preview major overhaul to critical areas rules ahead of March council review

Parks and Built Environment Council Committee ยท February 12, 2026

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Summary

Planning staff told the committee they are reorganizing and updating Chapter 19.37 (critical areas) to reflect state law and best available science, will release an updated draft and comment-response matrix before a planning commission hearing next week, and aim to meet the state's periodic-update deadline.

Everett planning staff briefed the Parks and Built Environment Committee on Feb. 11 about a substantial update to the city's critical areas regulations (Municipal Code Chapter 19.37) driven by state law and a required periodic update. Planning Director York Stevens Wazda said the rewrite reorganizes material, incorporates state "best available science," and will prioritize the 'no net loss' standard while seeking net ecological gain over time.

Stevens Wazda outlined which features the update covers: fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas (streams and wetlands), geologically hazardous areas (erosion, landslide and liquefaction zones), frequently flooded areas associated with the Snohomish River and Puget Sound shorelines, and associated mapping tools. He said the city maintains both PDF maps and an interactive map viewer but emphasized those layers are generalized and that site-specific delineation by qualified professionals is often required.

Staff described the review process and interagency feedback: the Oct. 31 draft produced roughly 93 comments from state agencies, tribes, local building organizations and public entities, including the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources, the Tulalip and Snoqualmie tribes, Port of Everett and Master Builders of Snohomish County. Planning staff said an updated draft and a 45-page comment-response matrix would be released prior to a planning commission public hearing next Tuesday; staff expect to bring a recommendation to council in March. Stevens Wazda also noted the Shoreline Master Program will need an update after the critical areas rules are adopted, and that the shoreline program requires Department of Ecology approval.

No formal action occurred in committee; staff requested public review of the draft and provided a project webpage and contact channel for comments. Stevens Wazda emphasized legal constraints under the Growth Management Act and Washington Administrative Code, the requirement to demonstrate scientific rigor for local "best available science," and the directive to give special consideration to anadromous (salmon) habitat in rulemaking.