14.142.020 Intent.
It is the intent of the critical areas and resource lands regulations to:
A. Designate and protect critical areas and natural resource lands, including wetlands, critical aquifer recharge areas, fish and wildlife habitat areas, geologically hazardous areas, flood hazard areas, and mineral resource lands.
B. Protect the natural environment, including air and water, to preserve the community’s high quality of life.
C. Protect unique, fragile and valuable elements of the environment, including fish and wildlife habitat; including suitable habitats to maintain native fish and wildlife species within their natural geographic distribution so that isolated sub-populations are not created.
D. Protect the public against losses from:
1. Costs of public emergency rescue and relief operations where the causes are avoidable.
2. Degradation of the natural environment and the expense associated with repair or replacement.
E. Protect members of the public and public resources and facilities from injury, loss of life, or property damage due to landslides, steep slope failures, erosion, seismic events, or flooding.
F. Avoid, minimize and mitigate for impacts arising from land development and other activities affecting critical areas to maintain their ecological functions and values including water quality, flood attenuation, habitat, recreation, education, and cultural preservation.
G. Provide the public with sufficient information and notice of potential risks associated with developing in and adjacent to critical areas.
H. Implement the goals and requirements of the Growth Management Act and the Lakewood comprehensive plan. [Ord. 362 § 3, 2004.]