A. Critical areas and their required buffers may not be altered except as allowed by this chapter.

B. Any action taken pursuant to this chapter must result in equivalent or greater functions and values of the critical areas associated with the proposed action, as determined by the best available science.

C. All actions and development must be designed and constructed in accordance with mitigation sequencing per AMC 19.70.125 to achieve no net loss of critical area functions and values.

D. Applicants must first demonstrate an actual inability to avoid or reduce impacts before restoration and compensation of impacts will be allowed.

E. No activity or use may be allowed that results in a net loss of the functions or value of critical areas.

F. Any individual critical area adjoined by another type of critical area must have the buffer and meet the requirements that provide the most protection to the critical areas involved.

G. Violations of this chapter are subject to AMC Title 20, Civil Enforcement and Penalties. Where a violation occurs within a suspected protected critical area or as depicted on city mapping, the property owner must provide an appropriate critical area report to determine impacts. The report may be subject to third party review at the property owner’s expense. (Ord. 4025 § 2 (Att. A), 2022; Ord. 3064 § 2 (Att. A), 2021)