BOCC Ordinance - Amend and Adopt CAO

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60 b. Whether the land adjacent to the wetland is susceptible to severe erosion, and erosion control best management practices will not effectively prevent adverse wetland impacts. 11. Buffer Averaging. The Director may allow averaging of the standard buffer widths in accordance with an approved critical areas report on a case-by-case basis. With buffer averaging, the buffer width is reduced in one location and increased in another location to maintain the same overall buffer area. In such cases, the minimum width of the buffer at any given point shall be at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the standard width, or twenty-five (25) feet, whichever is greater. Proposals for buffer averaging shall meet all the following: a. The wetland buffer has not been averaged or reduced by any prior actions; b. No feasible site design could be accomplished without buffer averaging; c. The wetland contains variations in sensitivity due to existing physical characteristics or the character of the buffer varies in slope, soils, or vegetation, and the wetland would benefit from a wider buffer in places and would not be adversely impacted by a narrower buffer in other places; d. The averaging will not have a significant adverse impact on wetland functions and values; and e. The area that is added to the buffer to offset the reduction will be well-vegetated. The Director may require vegetation enhancement if needed to ensure this criterion is met. 12. Mitigation for Buffer Averaging. Prior to approving a request for wetland buffer averaging, the Director shall ensure the development is designed to separate and screen the wetland from impacts such as noise, glare, vegetation trampling, intrusion, etc to the degree feasible. The site design shall consider the varying degrees of impacts of different land uses. For example, parking lots, store entrances, and roads generally have higher noise and glare impacts than the rear of a store. Site screening should take advantage of natural topography or existing vegetation, wherever possible. Where natural screening is not available, berms, landscaping, and structural screens should be implemented as may be required by the Director (e.g., orient buildings to screen parking lots and store entrances from critical areas). 13. Allowed Buffer Uses. The Director may allow the following alterations and development within a wetland buffer provided that they are conducted in a manner so as to minimize impacts to the buffer and adjacent wetland, including wetland functions and values: a. Conservation or restoration activities aimed at protecting or enhancing the soil, water, vegetation, or wildlife. b. The following passive recreation facilities designed in accordance with an approved critical areas report: i. Walkways and trails; provided that those pathways which are generally parallel to the perimeter of the wetland shall be located in the outer twenty- five percent (25%) of the buffer area and constructed with a surface that is not impervious to water. Raised boardwalks utilizing non-treated pilings may be acceptable; and ii. Wildlife viewing structures less than five hundred (500) square feet in size, including hunting blinds. c. Stormwater management facilities, limited to stormwater conveyance and dispersion facilities, outfalls and bioswales, may be allowed within the outer twenty-five percent (25%) of the buffer of wetlands in accordance with an approved critical areas report provided that: i. No other location is feasible; ii. The facility is designed to meet or exceed the standards set forth in the current version of the Stormwater Manual for Eastern Washington; and iii. The location of such facility will not degrade the functions or values of the wetland.