17.10.091 Fish and wildlife priority habitat assessment.
For a development proposed within or adjacent to an identified “priority habitat area,” the applicant shall provide a habitat assessment prepared by a qualified professional. The assessment shall include an inventory of the priority species, an evaluation of the habitat, and recommendations for protection of the habitat and species of concern. The city may ask appropriate resource agencies to review and comment on the proposal’s potential impact on habitat and species. Based upon recommendations from resource agencies and qualified professionals, the city may attach conditions to land use and development permits to prevent, minimize, or mitigate impacts to the habitat area.
In addition to the general critical areas report requirements of LMC 17.10.040, critical area reports for fish and wildlife priority habitat areas shall meet the requirements of this section. Critical areas reports for two or more types of critical areas shall meet the report requirements for each relevant type of critical area.
A. Preparation by a Qualified Professional. A critical areas report for a fish and wildlife priority habitat area shall be prepared by a qualified professional who is a biologist with experience preparing reports for the relevant type of habitat.
B. Areas Addressed in Critical Areas Report. The following areas shall be addressed in a critical areas report for fish and wildlife priority habitat areas:
1. The project area of the proposed activity;
2. All fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas and recommended buffers within 200 feet of the project area;
3. All shoreline areas, floodplains, other critical areas, and related buffers within 200 feet of the project area; and
4. A discussion of the efforts to avoid and minimize potential effects to these resources and the implementation of mitigation/enhancement measures as required.
C. Habitat Assessment. A habitat assessment is an investigation of the project area to evaluate the potential presence or absence of designated critical fish or wildlife species or habitat. A critical areas report for a fish and wildlife priority habitat area shall contain an assessment of habitats, including the following site and proposal-related information at a minimum:
1. Detailed description of vegetation on and adjacent to the project area and its associated buffer;
2. Identification of any species of local importance, priority species, or endangered, threatened, sensitive, or candidate species that have a primary association with habitat on or adjacent to the project area, and assessment of potential project impacts to the use of the site by the species;
3. A discussion of any federal, state, or local special management recommendations, including Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife habitat management recommendations, that have been developed for species or habitats located on or adjacent to the project area. (Ord. 3193 § 2, 2016)