SNR: A Focused Look at Fish and Wildlife Habitat

Drafting the code language

In March and April we held three community outreach opportunities to share about our work to finalize the County’s Significant Natural Resource inventory map and consider the best approach for regulating development in natural resource areas.

A recording of the virtual forum is available and the forum exhibits are in the Resources section below.

During these presentations we polled attendees for their thoughts:

How do you feel about this topic?

Which of these exceptions do you support? (select all that apply) You can easily remove...

For most areas we are considering requiring 50% of the tree value points on a development site to be retained or replaced. Do you believe this is...

We are considering allowing off-site tree replacement or payment of fee-in-lieu of tree replacement if a development cannot accommodate onsite replacement trees. Which of these possible options would you support?

Now that you have heard more about this project and the concepts for how our regulations will work, how are you feeling about this topic?

Updated draft SNR interactive inventory map

This interactive map shows the latest draft of the Significant Natural Resources in Washington County’s urban unincorporated area identified through our inventory update. There may be more changes to the map over the next couple of months as we make refinements and receive new information. The map shows two types of natural resources: Riparian habitat and upland wildlife habitat. Some properties have both types of habitats.
Follow these instructions:

1. Open the mapping tool
2. Enter the address or tax lot number in the "Find address or place" bar at the top left corner of the map screen, near the legend.
   1. Don't know the address or tax lot number? Search visually by dragging the map and zooming in.
3. Once you find the property of interest, click/tap in it to see Significant Natural Resource areas.

What are your thoughts?
Tell us what you think!

A Focused Look Overview

We are looking at our fish and wildlife habitat regulations related to Statewide Planning Goal 5. As part of this work we will:

• Update the habitat resource inventory for the County’s urban unincorporated area
• Analyze the impacts and consequences of allowing land uses that could conflict with habitat resources   
• Recommend changes to County Comprehensive Plan policies and development review standards based on desired level of protection

Sign up for updates to stay informed and learn of opportunities to share your point of view.

Significant fish and wildlife habitat is a Goal 5 natural resource. Oregon has a detailed process for counties and cities to follow when changing natural resource standards. (See graphic at right).

Our SNR: A Focused Look project is limited, as we will start by using habitat resource inventories previously collected by both Washington County and Metro to help us decide which habitat resources are significant.

We’ll then identify different land uses that could conflict with the significant habitat resources and conduct an Economic, Social, Environmental, Energy (ESEE) Analysis. This includes study of the impacts of allowing, limiting or prohibiting conflicting land uses within the significant resource area.

Our project will result in updates to our Goal 5 program and apply appropriate protections to County significant natural resources through our plan policies and code standards.

Learn more about the project. 

Timeline

Resources

Oregon Statewide Planning Goal 5 overview

Oregon's Statewide Planning Goals & Guidelines- Goal 5 text

OAR 660-023- Procedures and requirements for complying with Goal 5