KCC 17A_Critical Areas Ordinance Draft

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Kittitas County,WA § 17A.01.050 CRITICAL AREAS § 17A.01.050 fl.g_Enhancement actions. Habitat enhancement actions implemented through RCW 77.55.181. gh_Maintenance of existing structures. Normal maintenance or repair of existing structures or developments,including damage by accident, fire,or elements. "Normal maintenance" includes those usual acts to prevent a decline, lapse, or cessation from a lawfully established condition. "Normal repair" means to restore a development to a state comparable to its original condition including, but not limited to, its size, shape, configuration, location, and external appearance, within a reasonable period after decay or partial destruction, except where repair causes substantial adverse effects to critical areas or their buffers. Replacement of a structure or development may be authorized as repair where such replacement is the common method of repair for the type of structure or development and the replacement structure or development is comparable to the original structure or development including,but not limited to,its size, shape, configuration,location, and external appearance and the replacement does not cause substantial adverse effects to critical areas or their buffers. i. Site exploration and investigation activities. Site exploration and investigation activities that are prerequisite to preparation of an application for development,when all the following conditions are met: i. The activity will have no significant adverse impact on the environment including,but not limited to,fish;wildlife; fish or wildlife habitat;water quality; and aesthetic values; and ii. The activity does not involve the installation of any structure, and upon completion of the activity,the vegetation and land configuration of the site are restored to conditions existing before the activity. }LTree removal. i. Hazard Tree Removal in Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas, Wetlands, Frequently Flooded Areas and Geologically Hazardous Areas. (a) The removal of a hazard tree, including removal for compliance with KCC Chapter 20.10,Wildland Urban Interface Code,may be allowed when trimming or topping is not sufficient to address the hazard. If a tree in close proximity to a stream or river qualifies as a hazard tree in accordance to this Title it should be felled in a manner that creates instream habitat, when it is possible to do so while also addressing the original hazardous situation. Where the hazard is not immediately apparent to the Director, the Director may require the applicant to submit a Hazard Tree Determination Report (KCC § 17A.02.406)prepared by a qualified arborist (KCC § 17A.02.102) or forester(KCC § 17A.02.345). The removal of nonhazardous trees is not an exempt action in the critical areas listed under KCC § 17A.01.050.3.h.i, except when regulated under the provisions of the Forest Practice Act(Chapter 76.09 RCW). ii. Tree Removal in Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas. (a) The removal of any tree is an exempt action when the tree is solely within a Critical Aquifer Recharge Area and not also within a different overlapping critical area, riparian management zone, or buffer. This action does not require an exemption request or review by the director, unless it is associated with a regulated activity Downloaded from https:Hecode360.com/KI6857 on 2025-05-15