Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Critical Area topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Text amendment 25-13 would add climate resiliency goals, change critical-area review intervals and allow permeable pavement allowances
Summary
Planner Will Hager presented proposed zoning text amendments (25-13) to update critical-area goals to address climate resiliency and equity, extend review intervals from 6 to 10 years with a possible one-year extension per DNR guidance, and add permeable pavement definitions with limited lot-coverage relief.
Planner Will Hager and environmental staff presented text amendment 25-13, a set of critical-area updates requested by the state critical area commission and Department of Natural Resources.
Hager said the revisions add climate-resiliency goals and an equitable-distribution clause to the critical-area purpose statement and change the mandated comprehensive review interval for the critical-area provisions from every six years to every ten years, with a one-year extension allowed if the county notifies the state. "The revisions shown on this slide change the requirement that the critical area provisions ... be comprehensively reviewed from every 6 years to every 10 years and clarifying that if the county requires a 1 year extension to the 10 year deadline, they they must notify the critical area commission in writing," Hager explained.
The amendment also adds definitions and technical text allowing the use of permeable pavements and, in limited cases, a specific lot-coverage allowance: "The limits established in this subsection may be exceeded by up to 500 square feet using permeable pavers or permeable pavement installed to the manufacturer's specifications," staff said. Presenters said permeable pavement types range broadly and perviousness varies by product.
Commissioners raised concerns about the longer review interval and the vagueness of language defining "areas vulnerable to climate change." Staff said the language came from DNR and noted the county could initiate a local map or plan review sooner if new data warranted it. The commission received the informational session and staff will proceed with the public adoption process and a joint public hearing with the Board of County Commissioners, tentatively scheduled for August 20.
