WashCo Significant Natural Resources Update

As part of a year-long process to update its Significant Natural Resources standards, Washington County released its drafted inventory maps (by community-area) from data collected by both Washington County and Metro that will determine which lands will be considered to contain significant habitat resources. From these maps, the county is now taking steps to identify different uses that could conflict with the SNR lands and conduct an Economic, Social, Environmental, Energy (ESEE) Analysis. This includes an assessment of the related impacts that could arise from either allowing, limiting or prohibiting conflicting land uses within the affected areas. From there, the county will move change their code standards that provides a clearer regulatory framework as to what can be built in areas with SNR.