I . 2X 



Section 7: standards for Permit Decisions 



a. A permit shall only be granted if the permit, as conditioned, 

 is consistent with the provisions of this chapter. 

 Additionally, permits shall only be granted if: 



1) A proposed action avoids adverse impacts to regulated 

 wetlands or their buffers or takes affirmative and appropriate 

 measures to minimize and compensate for unavoidable impacts; 



2) The proposed activity results in no net loss; or 



3) Denial of a permit would cause an extraordinary hardship on 

 the applicant. 



b. Wetlands permits shall not be effective and no activity 

 thereunder shall be allowed during the time provided to file 

 a permit appeal. 



7.1 Wetland Buffers 



a. Standard Buffer Zone Widths 



Wetland buffer zones shall be required for all regulated 

 activities adjacent to regulated wetlands. Any wetland 

 created, restored or enhanced as compensation for approved 

 wetland alterations shall also include the standard buffer 

 ^ required for the category of the created, restored, or 



enhanced wetland. All buffers shall be measured from the 

 wetland boundary as surveyed in the field pursuant to the 

 requirements of Section 2. The width of the wetland buffer 

 zone shall be determined according to wetland category and 

 the proposed land use. 



1) Category I 



High intensity 300 feet 

 Low intensity 200 feet 



2) Category II 



High intensity 200 feet 

 Low intensity 100 feet 



3) Category III 



High intensity 100 feet 

 Low intensity 50 feet 



4) Category IV 



High intensity 50 feet 

 Low intensity 25 feet 



(NOTE: These buffer ranges have been established to reflect the 

 impact of intense and uses on wetland functions and values. If 

 local jurisdictions choose to adopt a single standard buffer width 

 from within these ranges additional criteria should be added which 

 will result in a reduction or increase in the standard based on 

 ^ landuse intensity and its impact on existing habitat values.) 



