City of Bellingham Municipal Code

16.55.430 - CRITICAL AREA REPORT - ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GEOLOGICALLY HAZARDOUS AREAS

A. Prepared by a Qualified Professional. A Critical Areas report for a geologically hazardous area shall be prepared by a qualified professional, in accordance with BMC 16.55.510.

B. Area Addressed in Critical Area Report. The following areas shall be addressed in a Critical Area report for geologically hazardous areas:

1. The project area of the proposed activity; and

2. All geologically hazardous areas within zone or distance of potential significant influence as determined by a professional engineer/ geologist.

1. Site and Construction Plans. The report shall include a copy of the site plans for the proposal showing:

a. The type and extent of geologic hazard areas, any other Critical Areas, and buffers on, adjacent to, or within a zone or distance of potential significant influence as determined by a professional engineer/ geologist;

b. Proposed development, including the location of existing and proposed structures, fill, storage of materials, and drainage facilities, with dimensions indicating distances to the floodplain, if available;

c. The topography, as determined by a professional engineer or geologist, of the project area and all hazard areas addressed in the report; and

d. Clearing limits.

2. Assessment of Geological Characteristics. The report shall include an assessment of the geologic characteristics of the soils, sediments, and/or rock of the project area and potentially affected adjacent properties, and a review of the site history regarding landslides, erosion, and prior grading. Soils analysis shall be accomplished in accordance with accepted classification systems in use in the region. The assessment shall include, but not be limited to:

a. A description of the surface and subsurface geology, hydrology, soils, and vegetation found in the project area and in all hazard areas addressed in the report;
b. A detailed overview of the field investigations, published data, and references; data and conclusions from past assessments of the site; and site specific measurements, test, investigations, or studies that support the identification of geologically hazardous areas; and
c. A description of the vulnerability of the site to seismic and other geologic events.
3. Analysis of Proposal. The report shall contain a hazards analysis including a detailed description of the project, its relationship to the geologic hazard(s), and its potential impact upon the hazard area, the subject property, and affected adjacent properties.

4. Minimum Buffer and Building Setback. The report shall make a recommendation for the minimum no-disturbance buffer and minimum building setback from any geologic hazard based upon the geotechnical analysis.