It is the policy of the city of Forks that the beneficial functions of critical areas be preserved, and potential dangers or public costs associated with the inappropriate use of such areas be minimized by reasonable regulation of uses within, adjacent or directly affecting such areas.
(Ord. 342 § 220, 1992)
To implement the purpose and policy stated above, it is the intent of this chapter to accomplish the following:
(1)
To conserve and protect the environmental attributes of the city of Forks that characterize the quality of life for residents of both the city of Forks and the state of Washington.
(2)
To identify and portray critical areas and the environmental functions these areas perform.
(3)
To protect critical areas and their functions by regulating use and management within these areas and on adjacent lands.
(4)
To maintain both acreage and ecological functions of regulated wetlands in the city of Forks and to restore or create wetlands to increase acreage, quality, and diversity of city of Forks wetlands.
(5)
To guide development proposals to the most environmentally suitable and naturally stable portion of a development site.
(6)
To avoid potential damage due to landslide, subsidence, erosion, or flooding.
(7)
To protect water quality by controlling erosion and carefully siting uses and activities which can release chemical or bacterial pollutants and maintaining stream flows and habitat quality for fish and marine shellfish.
(8)
To preserve natural flood control and stormwater storage from alterations to drainage or stream flow patterns.
(9)
To maintain ground water recharge and prevent the contamination of ground water resources to ensure water quality and quantity for domestic and commercial/industrial uses.
(10)
To protect areas with potential for marine aquaculture activities from degradation by other types of uses.
(11)
To protect the general public against avoidable losses from maintenance and replacement of public facilities, property damage, subsidy cost of public mitigation of avoidable impacts, and costs for public emergency rescue and relief operations.
(12)
To protect unique, fragile and valuable elements of the natural environment for the enjoyment of present and future generations.
(13)
To prevent cumulative adverse environmental impacts to water availability, water quality, wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas, frequently flooded areas and geologically hazardous areas.
(Ord. 342 § 230, 1992)
If any provision of this chapter or its application to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the remainder of this chapter and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected.
(Ord. 342 § 240, 1992)