18E.10.030 Purpose.
Erosion, landslide, seismic, volcanic, mine, and flood hazard areas; streams; wetlands; certain fish and wildlife species and habitat; and aquifer recharge areas constitute critical areas. All of these areas are of special concern to the people of Pierce County and the State of Washington. The purpose of this Title is to protect critical areas of Pierce County from the impacts of development and protect development from the impacts of hazard areas by establishing minimum standards for development of sites which contain or are adjacent to identified critical areas and thus promote the public health, safety, and welfare by:
A. Avoiding impacts to critical areas;
B. Mitigating unavoidable impacts by regulating development;
C. Protecting from impacts of development;
D. Protecting the public against losses from:
1. Costs of public emergency rescue and relief operations where the causes are avoidable; and
2. Degradation of the natural environment and the expense associated with repair or replacement.
E. Preventing adverse impacts on water availability, water quality, wetlands, and streams;
F. Protecting unique, fragile, and valuable elements of the environment, including critical fish and wildlife habitat;
G. Providing County officials with sufficient information to adequately protect critical areas and proposed development when approving, conditioning, or denying public or private development proposals;
H. Providing the public with sufficient information and notice of potential risks associated with development in natural hazard critical areas; and
I. Implementing the goals and requirements of the Growth Management Act of 1990, the State Environmental Policy Act, the Puget Sound Water Quality Management Plan, the Pierce County Charter, the Pierce County Comprehensive Plan, and all updates and amendments, functional plans, and other land use policies formally adopted by Pierce County.