Environment & Sustainability | Environmentally Critical Areas
iv. Category 4. Category 4 wetlands that score equal to or less than 15 points based on functions. b. The following standard buffers shall be established from the wetland edge:
less than 50 percent of the standard buffer for the applicable wetland category, no further reduction shall be allowed. ii. In addition to the provisions of SDC 21.03.020G., where a buffer has been previously established on a legally created parcel or tract that was legally established according to the regulations in place at the time of establishment, and is permanently recorded on title or placed within a separate tract, the buffer shall remain as previously established, provided it is equal to or greater than 50 percent of the current required standard buffer distance for the applicable wetland category. iii. Where wetland functions have been improved due to voluntary implementation of an approved stewardship, restoration and/or enhancement plan that is not associated with required mitigation or enforcement, the standard wetland buffer width shall be determined based on the previously established wetland category and habitat score as documented in the approved stewardship and enhancement plan. c. Removal of any native vegetation or woody debris from a wetland or wetland buffer may be allowed only as part of an approved alteration. Only native vegetation can be planted in wetland or buffer areas, unless the planting is otherwise allowed by SDC 21.03.020G., Allowances for existing urban development and other uses. d. Activities and uses shall be prohibited from wetlands and associated buffers, except as provided for in this chapter.
WETLAND STANDARD BUFFERS Wetland Category
Standard Buffer Width
Category 1: Natural heritage or bog wetlands
215’
Habitat score 8 – 9 Habitat score 5 – 7
200’ 150’ 125’
Not meeting above criteria
Category 2:
Habitat score 8 – 9 Habitat score 5 – 7
150’ 100’
Not meeting above criteria
75’
Category 3*:
Habitat score 8 – 9
75’ 50’
Not meeting above criteria
Category 4*:
All land use types
50’
* Subject to SDC 21.03.020Y.5.
i. Where a legally established and constructed street transects a wetland buffer, the department may approve a modification of the standard buffer width to the edge of the street if the isolated part of the buffer does not provide additional protection of the wetland and provides insignificant biological, geological or hydrological buffer functions relating to the wetland. If the resulting buffer distance is
94 | Title 21: Sammamish Development Code
Effective | January 1, 2022
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