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1. Purpose. It is the intent of the City to reduce the threat posed to the health and safety of its citizens from commercial, residential or industrial development that may be sited in areas of significant geologic hazard. In some cases, it is recognized that risks from geologic hazards can be reduced or mitigated to acceptable levels through engineering design or modified construction practices. In other cases where technological efforts are not sufficient to reduce associated risks, building is best avoided. The following reflect the goals and policies of the community:

A. Goal: Provide appropriate measures to either avoid or mitigate significant risks that are posed by geologic hazard areas to public and private property and to public health and safety.

B. Policies: When probable significant adverse impacts from geologically hazardous areas are identified during the review of a development application, documentation that fully addresses these potential impacts and identifies alternative mitigation measures to eliminate or minimize the impacts will be required.

2. Identification. Geological Hazards pose a threat to public health and safety. Adequate identification and development standards reduce these risks. Hazards of concern that exist in the City of George include any land containing soils, geology or slopes that meet any of the following criteria:

A. Areas with slopes in excess of 45%;

B. Areas with all three of the following characteristics:

1. Soil types with the properties of the Ringold formation (clay);

2. Areas with the potential for water loading; and

3. Slopes in excess of 15%

C. Soils within the City that are especially subject to wind erosion.

D. Slopes having gradients steeper than eighty percent (80%) subject to rock fall during seismic shaking; and/or:

E. Areas highly susceptible to liquefaction from seismic activity.

3. Classification and Designation.

A. All geologically hazardous areas shall be classified and designated according to the level of risk associated with the hazardous area as established through an approved geologic hazard risk assessment and/or a geotechnical report submitted by the applicant in accordance with this chapter. On-site inspections and the information sources identified in this chapter as guidance in identifying the presence of potential geologically hazardous areas.

B. Geologically hazardous areas in the City of George shall be classified according to the following system:

1. Level 1: Critical Hazard Areas shall be those areas with a known risk.

2. Level 2: Awareness Hazard Areas shall be those areas that have a suspected risk.

4. Determination Process. The City will review each development permit application to determine if the provisions of this section will be applied to the project. In making the determination, the City may use any of the reference maps and/or inventories identified in sections .010 - .080 of this Chapter:

A. Step One: Staff will determine if there are any possible geologically hazardous areas on-site as defined herein. This determination will be made following a review of information available and a site inspection if appropriate. If no hazard area is determined to be present, this section shall not apply to the review of the proposed development.

B. Step Two: If it is determined that a geologically hazardous area may be present, the applicant shall submit a geologic hazard area risk assessment prepared by a licensed engineer or a licensed geologist. The risk assessment will include a description of the geology of the site and the proposed development; an assessment of the potential impact the project may have on the geologic hazard; an assessment of what potential impact the geologic hazard may have on the project; appropriate mitigation measures, if any; and a conclusion as to whether further analysis is necessary. The assessment will be signed by and bear the seal of the engineer or geologist that prepared it. No further analysis shall be required if the geologic hazard area risk assessment concludes that there is no geologic hazard present on the site, nor will the project affect or be affected by any potential geologic hazards that may be nearby.

C. Step Three: If the professional preparing the risk assessment in step two concludes that further analysis is necessary, the applicant shall submit a geotechnical report as provided for herein.

D. A proposed development cannot be approved if it is determined by the geotechnical report that either the proposed development or adjacent properties will be at risk of damage from the geologic hazard, or that the project will increase the risk of occurrence of the hazard, and there are no adequate mitigation measures to alleviate the risks.

5. Geotechnical Report.

A. All geotechnical reports shall be prepared by a civil engineer licensed to practice in the State of Washington.

B. A geotechnical report shall include a description of the geology of the site, conclusions and recommendations regarding the effect of geologic conditions on the proposed development, and opinions and recommendations on the suitability of the site to be developed. The report shall evaluate the actual presence of geologic conditions giving rise to the geologic hazard, and an evaluation of the safety of the proposed project, and identification of construction practices, monitoring programs and other mitigation measures necessary. A bibliography of scientific citations shall be included as necessary.

C. The geotechnical report shall include a certification from the engineer preparing the report, including the engineer’s professional stamp and signature, stating all of the following:

1. The risk of damage from the project, both on- and off-site is minimal;

2. The project will not materially increase the risk of occurrence of the hazard;

3. The specific measures incorporated into the design and operational plan of the project to eliminate or reduce the risk of damage due to the hazard; and

4. Mitigation of adverse site conditions including slope stabilization measures and seismically unstable soils, if appropriate.

D. All mitigation measures, construction techniques, recommendations and technical specifications provided in the geotechnical report shall be applied during the implementation of the proposal. The engineer of record shall submit sealed verification at the conclusion of construction that development occurred in conformance with the approved plans.