Ord 2625 - TMC Title 18 Chapters - Critical Areas Regulations

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Table 18.45.080-2 — Required Measures to Minimize Impacts to Wetlands Disturbance Required Measures to Minimize Impacts Lights . Direct lights away from wetland Noise . Locate activity that generates noise away from wetland • If warranted, enhance existing buffer with native vegetation plantings adjacent to noise source • For activities that generate relatively continuous, potentially disruptive noise, such as certain heavy industry or mining, establish an additional 10-foot heavily vegetated buffer strip immediately adjacent to the outer edge of wetland buffer Toxic runoff . Route all new, untreated runoff away from wetland while ensuring wetland is not dewatered Establish covenants limiting use of pesticides within 150 feet of wetland • Apply integrated pest management Stormwater runoff . Retrofit stormwater detention and treatment for roads and existing adjacent development • Prevent channelized flow from lawns that directly enters the buffer • Use Low Intensity Development (LID) techniques where appropriate (for more information refer to the drainage ordinance and manual) Change in water regime . Infiltrate or treat, detain, and disperse into buffer new runoff from impervious surfaces and new lawns Pets and human . Use privacy fencing OR plant dense vegetation to delineate buffer edge disturbance and to discourage disturbance using vegetation appropriate for the ecoregion Place wetland and its buffer in a separate tract or protect with a conservation easement Dust . Use best management practices to control dust E. BUFFER SETBACKS. 1. All commercial and industrial buildings shall be set back 15 feet and all other development shall be set back 10 feet from the buffer's edge. The building setbacks shall be measured from the foundation to the buffer's edge. Building plans shall also identify a 20-foot area beyond the buffer setback within which the impacts of development will be reviewed. 2. The Director may waive setback requirements when a site plan demonstrates there will be no impacts to the buffer from construction or occasional maintenance activities. F. VARIATION OF STANDARD WETLAND BUFFER WIDTH. 1. Buffer averaging may be allowed by the Director as a Type 2 permit if the total area of the buffer after averaging is equal to the area required without averaging and the buffer at its narrowest point is never less than either 3/4 of the required width or 75 feet for Category I and II, 50 feet for Category III, and 25 feet for Category IV, whichever is greater, and so long as the following criteria is met: MLegislative Development\Critical Areas update 2-25-20 MD:bjs Review and analysis by Barbara Saxton Page 20 of 87