Kitsap County SMP Update
Preliminary Draft
March 6, 2012
APPENDIX E: Mitigation Options to achieve No Net Loss for New or ReDevelopment Activities
General Mitigation Standards:
1. Mitigation is not required outside of the Standard Buffer. Applicable critical area and
stormwater standards shall apply.
2. Unless otherwise specified, mitigation for new or re-development activity shall be at a 1:1 ratio.
3. Where a site-specific Shoreline Mitigation Plan can demonstrate no net loss of shoreline
ecological functions, alternate mitigation ratios may be applied.
4. Shoreline mitigation plans shall utilize applicable information from The Kitsap County Shoreline
Inventory and Characterization Report, as supplemented with site-specific data.
5. Mitigation planting or other mitigation options shall occur adjacent and parallel to the ordinary
high water mark of the shoreline as a first preference. Depending on site conditions, mitigation
may be allowed away from the shoreline edge in order to achieve greater ecological benefit.
6. Based on required mitigation and mitigation sequencing in accordance with this Program, a
combination of mitigation options may be utilized to achieve no net loss of shoreline ecological
functions.
7. If public access is included in the development, mitigation may be reduced by up to one half,
provided all other applicable provisions are met.
Mitigation standards for specific development activities:
A. Vegetation Clearing
Existing Vegetation
Being Removed
Mitigation Requirement Between
the Standard and Reduced
Standard Buffers
Mitigation Requirement
Below the Reduced
Standard Buffer
Grass/Lawn
Replace ½ of the equivalent of
the cleared area with native
vegetation
Replace the equivalent of the
cleared area with native
vegetation
Replace 2 times the equivalent
of the cleared area with native
vegetation
Replace the equivalent of
the cleared area with
native vegetation
Replace 2 times the
equivalent of the cleared
area with native vegetation
Replace 4 times the
equivalent of the cleared
area with native vegetation
Non-Native
Landscaping
(groundcover, shrubs, trees)
Native Vegetation
(groundcover, shrubs, trees)
Appendix E Mitigation Options for New Development Activities
Page 1
Kitsap County SMP Update
Preliminary Draft
March 6, 2012
Additional standards for impervious surface installation:
1. Decks and semi-pervious surfaces: for installation of pervious or semi-pervious surfaces such
as non-solid surface decks, pervious area may be subtracted from the above mitigation
requirements.
2. Rain garden option: for new or expanded impervious surface that replaces grass, lawn or nonnative landscaping, rain garden installation may be utilized in lieu of the above replanting
specifications. Rain gardens shall generally be 50-80% of the new impervious surface size,
depending on soil type. Rain gardens may not be appropriate in all locations due to soil type or
slope. Staff shall be consulted prior to selecting this option.
3. Impervious Surface Removal Credit: removal of impervious surface of an equivalent or greater
area and replacement with vegetation may be utilized for mitigation credit at a 1:1 ratio, so long
as the existing impervious surface to be removed is within the Standard or Reduced Standard
Buffer. When such removal occurs outside of the Standard Buffer, a 0.5:1 ratio will be applied.
B. New and Replacement Shoreline Armoring or Barrier Structures
1. If new, removal of another barrier structure at a 1:1 ratio (length), or other opportunities
identified in the Kitsap County Shoreline Inventory and Characterization Report.
2. If replacement exceeds 50% of existing structure, use soft or hybrid alternative(s) such as
adding logs or stumps.
For new or replacement:
3. Remove fill and move armoring landward.
4. Add a “pocket beach” to the design, where appropriate based on shoreline functions.
5. Add overhanging vegetation along the bulkhead edge or other portion of shoreline currently not
providing such features, when other options are not available.
6. Add beach nourishment, where determined appropriate in consultation with agencies with
jurisdiction.
C. New and Replacement Overwater Structures
1. If new, removal of another overwater or in-water structure at a 1:1 ratio.
2. For new or replacement, add site appropriate habitat features in consultation with agencies
with jurisdiction.
Appendix E Mitigation Options for New Development Activities
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Kitsap County SMP Update
Preliminary Draft
March 6, 2012
Alternative Mitigation Options
The following alternative mitigation options may be utilized where appropriate.
1. Transfer of Development Rights, if applicable (KCC 17.430)
2. Off site, in-lieu fee (if available). For Hood Canal, the Hood Canal Coordinating Council InLieu Fee program shall be utilized.
3. Documented restoration activities which have occurred on the property within 5-years of
shoreline development or redevelopment, in accordance with the Restoration Plan of this
Program, may be considered for use as mitigation.
4. Other options from the Kitsap County Inventory and Characterization (Chapter 4) and the
Restoration Plan of this Program, where demonstrated that such options shall achieve no net
loss of shoreline ecological functions for the proposed development activity.
Example Diagrams:
= New
= Existing
= Existing Lawn
Example
#1:
Expansion
outside of
Standard
Buffer, no
native
vegetation
removed
Mitigation:
None
Required
Example #2: New 1400 s.f. home on constrained lot covered with
grass
Mitigation:
 200 s.f. outside Standard Buffer = no mitigation required
 800 s.f inside Standard Buffer = install rain gardens (or native
vegetation)
 400 s.f. below Reduced Standard Buffer = install 400 s.f. of new
native vegetation
Appendix E Mitigation Options for New Development Activities
Page 3
Kitsap County SMP Update
Preliminary Draft
March 6, 2012
Example #3: Expansion requiring removal of 150 s.f. of
existing native vegetation inside Standard Buffer
Mitigation:
150 sf. of existing native vegetation removed X 2 =
install 300 s.f. of new native vegetation
Appendix E Mitigation Options for New Development Activities
Page 4