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5. Buffers of restored wetlands: The buffer for a wetland created, restored, or enhanced as <br />compensation for approved wetland alterations shall be the same as the buffer required for the <br />category of the created, restored, or enhanced wetland. <br />6. Buffer averaging: The Administrator may allow averaging of the standard wetland buffer widths <br />in the Table at KCC 17B.05.020G-1 when necessary to accommodate a single-family residence or <br />residential subdivision of four (4) or fewer lots. With buffer averaging, the buffer width is <br />reduced in one location and increased in another location to maintain the same overall buffer <br />area. Proposals for buffer averaging shall not require a shoreline variance or compensatory <br />mitigation if the following conditions are met: <br />a. The buffer has not been averaged or reduced by any prior actions administered by Kittitas <br />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 characteristics or the <br />character of the buffer varies in slope, soils, or vegetation, and that wetland would benefit <br />from a wider buffer in places and would not be adversely impacted by a narrower buffer in <br />other places; <br />d. A critical area report demonstrates that the averaging will not adversely impact wetland <br />function and values; <br />e. The minimum width of the buffer at any given point is at least seventy-five percent (75%) <br />of the standard width per the Table at KCC 17B.05.020G-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 needed, to <br />ensure this criterion is met. <br />7. Buffer reduction: On sites that lack well-vegetated wetland buffers, the Administrator may allow <br />reduction of the buffer widths in the Table at KCC 17B.05.020G-1 when necessary to <br />accommodate a single-family residence or residential subdivision of four (4) or fewer lots. The <br />buffer reduction shall be allowed only in those limited instances when adherence to the <br />standard buffer is infeasible or presents a substantial hardship because of site conditions, lot <br />configuration or other circumstances. Residential subdivisions of more than four (4) lots and <br />non-water-dependent non-water-related developments shall not be eligible for buffer <br />reduction, except through a shoreline variance. Buffers that have been averaged or reduced by <br />any prior actions administered by Kittitas County shall not be further reduced. Proposals for <br />buffer reduction on such sites shall not require a shoreline variance if the following conditions <br />are met: <br />a. The existing buffer is predominantly un-vegetated, composed of nuisance species or in an <br />otherwise highly disturbed condition; <br />b. The minimum width of the reduced buffer is at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the <br />standard width per the Table at KCC 17B.05.020G-1; <br />c. The reduced portion of the buffer cannot exceed forty percent (40%) of the buffer length <br />on the development property; <br />d. A critical area report demonstrates that the reduction will not result in a net loss of wetland <br />functions and values. <br />e. The reduced buffer area is planted and enhanced with species native to central <br />Washington; and