§ 15-386. Review standards.

(a)

The environmental protection division shall review every application to determine the number of habitat units existing before the activity and the number estimated after the proposed activity. Each application shall demonstrate the preservation, creation or restoration of an equal number of habitat units after the proposed activity, except as permitted in divisions 3 and 4 of this article.

(b)

In reviewing each application, the environmental protection division shall consider the number of habitat units existing before and after the proposed activity, the species selected for evaluation, and (where the species selected for evaluation after the activity is proposed to be different from the existing evaluation species) the relative values of the evaluation species.

(c)

The relative values of the evaluation species selected shall be computed by the methods set forth in the habitat evaluation procedures of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, taking into account the scarcity, vulnerability, replaceability, and management efforts with respect to the evaluation species and any proposed replacement species (technical appendices).

(1)

Where the existing evaluation species have a high value because of their scarcity or vulnerability on a national or regional ecosystem basis, the application shall demonstrate no loss of existing habitat units for the evaluation species or the creation of an equal number of habitat units for species of equal value.

(2)

Where the existing evaluation species are relatively abundant and have a high to medium value, the application shall demonstrate the minimal loss (less than ten (10) percent) of habitat units for the existing species or the creation of an equal number of habitat units for other species having the same cumulative value and importance.

(3)

Where the existing evaluation species are relatively abundant, have a low value, and are relatively tolerant of the proposed activity, the application shall demonstrate the minimization of loss of habitat value.

(Code 1965, § 36B-31; Ord. No. 87-31, § 5.04, 7-27-87; Ord. No. 87-39, § 1(5.04), 11-9-87; Ord. No. 89-8, § 1(5.04), 7-3-89; Ord. No. 2008-01 , § 9, 2-5-08)