Whatcom
County’s critical areas provide essential functions
and processes that are vital to the local environment and
valued by Whatcom County’s citizens. To safeguard and
minimize impacts to essential water resources; preserve and
protect important fish and wildlife habitat areas; and protect
the general public safety and welfare, development activities
must be reviewed and managed carefully.
Where does the CAO apply?
The
provisions of the Whatcom County Critical Areas Ordinance
apply to any proposed land use or development activity within
an area of Whatcom County that meets the definitions and criteria
for critical areas as established in the CAO.
Critical Area Review
Development activities proposed
within a critical area or critical area buffer are reviewed
for:
- Consistency with the purpose and standards
of the CAO
- Identification and implementation of protective
or mitigating measures that are adequate enough to protect
critical area function, as well as protect the public health,
safety and welfare.
County review of proposed activities within a critical area
or critical area buffer is initiated through application for
any project permit in Whatcom County. The following critical
areas review procedure is initiated when a project or land
use application is submitted:
- The Technical Administrator determines
if a proposed project is located within a critical area
or critical area buffer.
- If a proposed activity is located within
a critical area or its buffer, the Technical Administrator
will confirm the presence or absence of critical areas through
site inspection or other appropriate means.
- If a project may impact a regulated critical
area, a critical areas specialist is required to prepare
a Critical Areas Assessment Report.
- Where a project is proposed within an
area where listed or locally significant wildlife species
have a primary association, a wildlife habitat specialist
may be required to prepare a habitat management plan.
- The recommendations and conclusions of
an approved assessment report or habitat management plan
are used to assist the administrator in making a final determination
regarding critical areas jurisdiction and appropriate mitigation
measures.
Proposed critical area alterations that do not otherwise require
County permit review or approval, must still comply with the
provisions of the CAO.
Other Agencies
that have jurisdictional control over critical areas may include:
the Lummi Indian Nation; the Nooksack Tribe; the United States
Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency,
and Fish and Wildlife Service; the Washington State Department
of Ecology, Department of Fish and Wildlife and Department
of Natural Resources. |
