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Staff propose function‑based wetland framework; public commenters urge stronger protections
Summary
The Pasco Conserves chapter would shift from categorical wetland lists to a function‑based framework that emphasizes ecological function, connectivity and water‑quality benefits; residents urged retention of strong protections and staff agreed to clarify language and coordinate with state/federal permits and the Land Development Code.
County staff returned the Pasco Conserves (conservation) chapter with revisions that remove the existing categorical wetland scheme and substitute a function‑based protection framework focused on ecological function, habitat connectivity and water‑quality benefits.
Keith Wiley, director of Parks & Recreation and Natural Resources, said the existing categorical approach created arbitrary thresholds that complicated permitting across jurisdictions. "The categories created some confusion between multiple permitting jurisdictions," Wiley said, arguing a function‑based evaluation would better reflect habitat and water‑quality value.
Several public commenters urged stronger protections. Nancy Hayes told the commission communities were "alarmed" that categorical references were removed and suggested the county do more to create and restore wetlands. Julie Bartunick and Jasmine Forkin described local wetlands’ ecological importance and asked how mitigation and preservation would work in practice. Staff and commissioners explained wetland mitigation rules, mitigation banks and typical mitigation ratios (often greater than 1:1) and noted that flood‑storage functions must be addressed on site in many cases.
Commissioners and staff agreed to restore qualifying language—such as "where feasible and practicable"—to avoid unintended rigidity and committed to confirm the proposed comp‑plan language is no more restrictive than state and federal permitting. Staff said LDC amendments will follow and they will present revised language incorporating the commission’s direction and additional clarifications for the public before returning the chapter for adoption.
