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<br /> <br />Kittitas County Shoreline Master Program <br />Chapter 5 70 <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 70 of 339 <br />aquatic habitat conservation area functions and values, the Administrator shall <br />consider: <br />a. The historical and current susceptibility to severe erosion, channel instability, or <br />aggrading; <br />b. The presence of multiple channels or islands; <br />c. The land adjacent to the ordinary high water mark and extending throughout the <br />standard habitat buffer is steeply sloped (greater than forty percent (40%) slope) <br />and there are no designated landslide hazards within the area of shoreline <br />jurisdiction, such that an increased buffer may be required to protect ecological <br />functions; and <br />d. The adequacy of the standard width to prevent habitat degradation and protect <br />the structure and functions of the habitat area. <br /> <br />6. Buffer for aquatic habitat conservation area mitigation sites: Any aquatic habitat <br />conservation area that is created, restored, or enhanced as compensation for <br />approved alterations shall be the same as the buffer required for the category of the <br />created, restored, or enhanced aquatic habitat conservation area. <br />7. Buffer averaging: The Administrator may allow averaging of the aquatic habitat <br />buffer widths in Table 5.2-3 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. An approved critical area report demonstrates that the buffer averaging will not <br />reduce stream or habitat functions or adversely affect salmon habitat; <br />d. The minimum width of the buffer at any given point is at least seventy-five <br />percent (75%) of the standard width per Table 5.2-3, or twenty-five (25) feet, <br />whichever is greater; and <br />e. The area that is added to the buffer to offset the reduction is well-vegetated. The <br />Administrator may require vegetation enhancement if needed to ensure this <br />criterion is met. <br /> <br />8. Buffer reduction: On sites that lack well-vegetated buffers, the Administrator may <br />allow reduction of the aquatic habitat buffer widths in Table 5.2-3 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 shall not be eligible for buffer reduction,