Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />Kittitas County Shoreline Master Program <br />Chapter 5 63 <br />March 7, 2016 <br />Kittitas County Board of County Commissioners Shoreline Master Program Adopting Ordinance <br />Kittitas County Shoreline Master Program Exhibit A | March 2016 | Page 63 of 339 <br />6. Buffer averaging: The Administrator may allow averaging of the standard wetland <br />buffer widths in Table 5.2-1 when necessary to accommodate a single-family <br />residence or residential subdivision of four (4) or fewer lots. With buffer averaging, <br />the buffer width is reduced in one location and increased in another location to <br />maintain the same overall buffer area. Proposals for buffer averaging shall not <br />require a shoreline variance or compensatory mitigation if the following conditions <br />are met: <br />a. The buffer has not been averaged or reduced by any prior actions administered <br />by Kittitas County; <br />b. No feasible site design could be accomplished without buffer averaging; <br />c. The wetland contains variations in sensitivity due to existing physical <br />characteristics or the character of the buffer varies in slope, soils, or vegetation, <br />and that wetland would benefit from a wider buffer in places and would not be <br />adversely impacted by a narrower buffer in other places; <br />d. A critical area report demonstrates that the averaging will not adversely impact <br />wetland function and values; <br />e. The minimum width of the buffer at any given point is at least seventy-five <br />percent (75%) of the standard width per Table 5.2-1, or twenty-five (25) feet, <br />whichever is greater; and <br />f. The area that is added to the buffer to offset the reduction is well-vegetated. The <br />Administrator may require vegetation enhancement and a mitigation plan, if <br />needed, to ensure this criterion is met. <br />7. Buffer reduction: On sites that lack well-vegetated wetland buffers, the Administrator <br />may allow reduction of the buffer widths in Table 5.2-1 when necessary to <br />accommodate a single-family residence or residential subdivision of four (4) or fewer <br />lots. The buffer reduction shall be allowed only in those limited instances when <br />adherence to the standard buffer is infeasible or presents a substantial hardship <br />because of site conditions, lot configuration or other circumstances. Residential <br />subdivisions of more than four (4) lots and non-water-dependent non-water-related <br />developments shall not be eligible for buffer reduction, except through a shoreline <br />variance. Buffers that have been averaged or reduced by any prior actions <br />administered by Kittitas County shall not be further reduced. Proposals for buffer <br />reduction on such sites shall not require a shoreline variance if the following <br />conditions are met: <br />a. The existing buffer is predominantly un-vegetated, composed of nuisance <br />species or in an otherwise highly disturbed condition; <br />b. The minimum width of the reduced buffer is at least seventy-five percent (75%) of <br />the standard width per Table 5.2-1; <br />c. The reduced portion of the buffer cannot exceed forty percent (40%) of the buffer <br />length on the development property; <br />d. A critical area report demonstrates that the reduction will not result in a net loss <br />of wetland functions and values.