Ord 2625 - TMC Title 18 Chapters - Critical Areas Regulations

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WHEREAS, the City's critical area regulations should be consistent with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources' stream classification system; and WHEREAS, the City is conducting a required periodic update of its critical areas regulations per RCW 36.70A.130; and WHEREAS, after administering the critical area regulations for the past nine years the City has determined there are certain clarifications and refinements needed to improve the effectiveness of the ordinance; and WHEREAS, the City Council adopted a Public Outreach Plan that incorporated a variety of methods to notify the general public and property owners including an open house, mailings to property owners and tenants, notice in a stormwater bill, postings on the City's web site, creation of a broadcast e-mail group that received updates of the critical areas review process, and articles in the City's newsletter "The Hazelnut;" and WHEREAS, after receiving public input and administering the recently adopted tree and landscaping regulations, the City has determined there are certain clarifications and refinements needed to the "Urban Forestry and Tree Regulations" chapter and the "Landscape Requirements" chapter of the Tukwila Municipal Code to improve the effectiveness of those ordinances; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission reviewed a public review Draft Critical Areas Regulations, held a public hearing on April 11, 2019, and recommended adoption of revised regulations to the City Council on June 27, 2019; and WHEREAS, an environmental checklist was prepared for the Draft Critical Areas Regulations as recommended by the Planning Commission and a Determination of Non - Significance was issued September 9, 2019; and WHEREAS, the City Council held a public hearing on September 23, 2019, to review the Planning Commission recommended Draft Critical Areas Regulations; and WHEREAS, the City Council reviewed written and verbal testimony and approved revisions to the Planning Commission recommended Draft Critical Areas Regulations to address issues raised by interested parties, individual councilmembers, staff and the Department of Ecology; and WHEREAS, notice has been provided to the Washington State Department of Commerce pursuant to RCW 36.70A.106; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, HEREBY ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS: w:\Legislative Development\Critical Areas update 2-25-20 MD:bjs Review and analysis by Barbara Saxton Page 2 of 87