§ 17.28.010. Purpose and intent.

The purpose of this article is to establish standards for development in environmentally sensitive areas, in a manner which provides for reasonable use of the land while retaining to the maximum extent possible the environmentally sensitive portions in a predeveloped state. This article is predicated on the concept that land use policy decisions and zoning decisions must be made in the context of the land's characteristics. The choice of residential land uses should be based on site-specific characteristics which coincide with the many available varieties of housing. Commercial land use decision-making, conversely, is likely driven more by market forces, such as location or access, than by site characteristics. It is the intent of this article to offer incentives to minimize environmental disturbance. The requirements and standards of this article are intended to promote low-impact development in the sensitive hillsides and areas of special flood hazard of the community through incentives to preserve these lands in an undeveloped state, to insure protection of special vegetative assets and to promote well-conceived development which recognizes the problem soils of the community.

(Ord. 96-555 § 7.1(A), 1997)