KCC 17A_Critical Areas Ordinance Draft

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Kittitas County,WA § 17A.04.030 KITTITAS COUNTY CODE § 17A.04.040 e. The land adjacent to the ordinary high water mark and extending throughout the standard habitat buffer is steeply sloped(greater than forty percent(40%) slope) and there are geologic hazards or frequently flooded areas such that an increased buffer may be required to protect ecological functions. 8. Riparian management zone or Upland Habitat buffer averaging.The Director may allow averaging of the standard RMZ or bland habitat buffer widths of fish and wildlife habitat sites in accordance with an approved habitat management plan on a case-by-case basis. With RMZ or buffer averaging, the RMZ or buffer width is reduced in one location and increased in another location to maintain the same overall standard area. Proposals for RMZ or buffer averaging shall meet all the following: a. The Fish and wildlife habitat conservation area RMZ or buffer has not been averaged or reduced by any prior actions administered by Kittitas County; b. No feasible site design could be accomplished without buffer averaging; C. The RMZ or buffer averaging will not reduce habitat functions or adversely affect anadromous fish habitat; d. The minimum width of the RMZ or buffer at any given point is at least seventy-five percent (75%)of the standard width; and e. The area that is added to the RMZ or buffer to offset the reduction is well-vegetated or will be densely planted with native vegetation along with monitoring and management to ensure that it becomes so. The Director may require such native vegetation enhancement if needed to ensure this criterion is met. 9. (Reserved) 10. Buffers for non-aquatic habitats.Appropriate site-and species-specific buffers for nonaquatic fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas shall be based upon best available science, and recommendations by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife or a qualified professional biologist.Buffers will be measured in all directions from the habitat boundary, as mapped by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife or qualified professional pursuant to 17A.04.020 and verified by the Director. a. Interrupted Buffers: When a fish and wildlife habitat conservation area buffer contains an existing legally established public or private road and/or a legally established development which creates a significant interruption of buffer function, the Director may allow an alteration or development on the opposite side of the road from the habitat area provided that the actions will not have a detrimental impact to the habitat area. The Director may require a habitat management plan if - after considering the hydrologic, geologic, and/or biological habitat connection potential and the extent and permanence of the buffer interruption - such a plan is deemed necessary to confirm the lack of detrimental impact on the habitat area. b. Multiple buffers: In the event that buffers for any fish and wildlife habitat conservation area or other critical area (including RMZs) are contiguous or overlapping, the most protective of the collective buffers shall apply. (Ord. 2021-016,2021) § 17A.04.040. General protection standards. 1. Alterations. All alterations and development shall be prohibited from fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas and their buffers, except in accordance with this Title.A fish and wildlife habitat Downloaded from https:Hecode360.com/KI6857 on 2025-05-15