HomeMy WebLinkAboutProposed Amendments ACC 16.10
Exhibit C to Ordinance 6295 D R A F T Draft Date 2.5.2010 Chapter 16.10 CRITICAL AREAS 16.10.010 Purpose and intent. *** B. The city finds that these critical areas perform a variety
of valuable and beneficial biological and physical functions that benefit the city and its residents. Alteration of certain critical areas may also pose a threat to public safety or
to public and private property or the environment. The city therefore finds that identification, regulation and protection of critical areas are necessary to protect the public health,
safety and general welfare. The city further finds that the functions of critical areas and the purpose of these regulations include the following: *** 6. Flood Hazard Areas. Floodplains
help to store and convey storm water and flood water; recharge ground water; provide important areas for riparian habitat; and serve as areas for recreation, education, and scientific
study. Development within floodplain areas can be hazardous to those inhabiting such development, and and to those living upstream and downstream. Floods also cause substantial damage
to public and private property that results in significant costs to the public and individuals. The primary goals of flood hazard regulations are to limit or condition development within
the 100-year floodplain Regulatory Floodplain to avoid substantial risk of damage to public and private property and that results in significant costs to the public and individuals;
to avoid significant increases in peak storm water flows or loss of flood storage capacity; to protect critical habitat for fish and wildlife, and to meet the purposes set forth in Chapter
15.68 of the Auburn City Code. Requirements for the identification, assessment, alteration, and mitigation of flood hazard areas are contained in Chapter 15.68 ACC. and to implement
the objectives of the Draft Mill Creek Flood Control Plan, if and when adopted. *** 16.10.070 Critical area review process and application requirements. A. Pre-Application Conference.
A pre-application conference is available and encouraged prior to submitting an application for a project permit. B. Application Requirements. 1. Timing of Submittals. Concurrent with
submittal of a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) checklist, or concurrent with submittal of an application for projects exempt from SEPA, a critical area report must be submitted
to the city for review when the city believes that a critical area may be present. The purpose of the report is to determine the extent, characteristics and functions of any critical
areas located on or potentially affected by activities on a site where regulated activities are proposed. The report will also be used by the city to determine the appropriate critical
area classification and, if applicable, to establish appropriate buffer requirements. 2. Report Contents. Reports and studies required to be submitted by this chapter shall contain,
at a minimum, the information indicated in the provisions of this chapter applicable to each critical area. The director may tailor the information required to reflect the complexity
of the proposal and the sensitivity of critical areas that may potentially be present. C. Consultant Qualifications and City Review. All reports and studies required of the applicant
by this section shall be prepared by a qualified consultant as that term is defined in these regulations. The city may retain a qualified consultant paid
Exhibit C to Ordinance 6295 D R A F T Draft Date 2.5.2010 for by the applicant to review and confirm the applicant's reports, studies and plans if the following circumstances exist:
1. The city has technical information that is unavailable to the applicant; or 2. The applicant has provided inaccurate or incomplete information on previous proposals or proposals currently
under consideration. D. Review Process. This section is not intended to create a separate critical area review permit for development proposals. To the extent possible, the city shall
consolidate and integrate the review and processing of critical area-related aspects of proposals with other land use and environmental considerations and approvals. Any permits required
by separate codes or regulations, such as floodplain development zone control permits or shoreline substantial development permits, shall continue to be required. (Ord. 5894 § 1, 2005.)