CA-06-157 Landslide and Erosion Hazard Areas.pdf
CITY OF EDMONDS
CRITICAL AREAS RECONNAISSANCE REPORT
Site Location:Tax Acct. Number:
8715 Talbot Road 00594400002600
Determination:Determination #:
Study Required CRA-2006-157
Applicant:Owner:
Terri and Dan Gietzen Same as Applicant
CRITICAL AREAS RECONNAISSANCE REPORT:STUDY REQUIRED (CRA-2006-157)
During review and inspection of the subject site, it was found that the site may be either adjacent to or
contain critical areas, including Geologically Hazardous areas, pursuant to Chapters 23.40 and 23.80
of the Edmonds Community Development Code (ECDC).
GENERAL CRITICAL AREAS REPORT REQUIREMENTS
Critical Areas Reports identify, classify, and delineate any areas on or adjacent to the subject property
that may qualify as critical areas. They also assess these areas and identify any potential impacts
resulting from your specific development proposal. If a specific development proposal results in an
alteration to a critical area, the critical areas report will also contain a mitigation plan. You have the
option of completing the portion of the study that classifies and delineates the critical areas and
waiting until you have a specific development proposal to complete the study. You may also choose
to submit the entire study with your specific development application.
Please review the minimum report requirements for all types of Critical Areas that are listed in
ECDC 23.40.090.D. There are additional report requirements for different types of critical
areas (see below).
Note that it is important for the report to be prepared by a qualified professional as defined in
the ordinance. There are options on how to complete a critical areas study, and there is an
approved list of consultants that you may choose from. You may contact the Planning Division
for more information.
General Mitigation Requirements for all Critical Areas are discussed in ECDC 23.40.110
through 23.40.140.
STUDY REQUIREMENT – EROSION HAZARD AREA
It appears that this property contains or is adjacent to an Erosion Hazard Area. Erosion Hazard Areas
include:
Those areas with Alderwood and Everett series soils on slopes of 15 percent or greater.
Any area with slopes of 15 percent or greater and impermeable soils interbedded with granular
soils and springs or ground water seepage.
Areas with significant visible evidence of ground water seepage, and which also include
existing landslide deposits regardless of slope.
DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS ASSOCIATED WITH EROSION HAZARD AREAS
Development within an Erosion Hazard Area must meet additional criteria.
For erosion hazard areas with suitable slope stability, the only critical area study needed is an
erosion and sediment control plan prepared in compliance with the requirements set forth in
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Chapter 18.30 ECDC as part of the construction documents. This option is at the director’s
discretion, per Edmonds Community Development Code section 20.80.050.G.
In areas where the slope stability is not suitable, projects within Erosion Hazard Areas will
require a report by a licensed Geotechnical Engineer or other qualified professional. Note that
it is important for the report to be prepared by a qualified professional as defined in the
ordinance.
Report requirements are given in ECDC 23.80.050, and more generally in ECDC 23.40.090.D.
Development standards are given in ECDC 23.80.060 and 23.80.070.
STUDY REQUIREMENT – LANDSLIDE HAZARD AREA
It appears that this property contains or is adjacent to a Landslide Hazard Area.
A Landslide Hazard Area is any area with a slope of forty percent (40%) or steeper and with a
vertical relief of ten (10) or more feet (except areas composed of consolidated bedrock).
Landslide Hazard Areas are further defined and illustrated in ECDC 23.80.020.B.
In addition to the general requirements for Critical Areas reports referenced above, specific
Critical Area report requirements for Landslide Hazard Areas are provided in ECDC 23.80.050.
DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS ASSOCIATED WITH LANDSLIDE HAZARD AREAS
Development is restricted within a Landslide Hazard Area and its buffer.
Projects that will intrude into these areas will require a report by a licensed Geotechnical
Engineer.
The criteria that are applied depend on the amount that the buffer is reduced.
The buffer can be reduced to a minimum of ten (10) feet (with an additional 15’ building
setback per ECDC 23.40.280) if a report is prepared that meets the standards listed in ECDC
23.80.050. The alteration must also meet the requirements listed in ECDC 23.80.060.
In addition, proposals to reduce the buffer to less than ten (10) feet must comply with the
design standards listed in ECDC 23.80.070.A.3.
ALLOWED ACTIVITIES
Certain activities are allowed in or near critical area buffers as specified in ECDC 23.40.20. If you
have any questions about whether your proposed development qualifies as an allowed activity, please
contact a Planner for more information.
EXEMPT DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS
Certain development proposals may be exempt from Critical Areas Requirements (ECDC 23.40.230).
If you think that a specific development proposal may be exempt, contact a Planner for more
information.
Jen Machuga, Planner November 21, 2006
Name Signature Date
NOTE: Cited sections of the Edmonds Community Development Code (ECDC) can be found on the
City of Edmonds website at www.ci.edmonds.wa.us.
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