“Advisory body” means any body established by ordinance of the city council, whose responsibilities include the review of development proposals for the purpose of making recommendations to the city council.

“Aquifer recharge areas” means areas which recharge aquifers that are a source of drinking water vulnerable to contamination that would affect the portability of the water. These areas include: sole source aquifer recharge areas and wellhead protection areas designated pursuant to the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act; areas established for special protection pursuant to a ground water management program as described by Chapters 90.44, 90.48 and 90.54 RCW and Chapters 173-100 and 173-200 WAC; and any other area meeting the definition of “areas with a critical recharging effect on aquifers used for potable water” as described in Chapter 365-190 WAC and the Auburn comprehensive plan.

“Department” means any division, subdivision or organizational unit of the city established by ordinance, rules, or order.

“Development” means the rezoning of property, the subdivision of land, the construction of buildings, or any physical alteration of the land which is subject to city approval and to the requirements of SEPA.

“Fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas” means lands which are important for the maintenance of fish and wildlife species in suitable habitats within the natural geographic distribution of the species. These areas include: areas with which endangered, threatened and sensitive species have a primary association; habitats and species of local importance; waters of the state; waters planted with game fish; and any other area meeting the definition of “fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas” as described in Chapter 365-190 WAC and the Auburn comprehensive plan.

“Frequently flooded areas” means lands in the floodplain subject to a one percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year. These areas include: streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands and any other area meeting the definition of “frequently flooded areas” as described in Chapter 365-190 WAC and the Auburn comprehensive plan.

“Geologically hazardous areas” means areas that because of their susceptibility to erosion, sliding, earthquake or other geological events, are not suited to siting commercial, residential or industrial development consistent with public health or safety concerns. These areas include:

“Hearing examiner” means the city hearing examiner as established by Chapter 2.46 ACC.

“Ordinance” means an ordinance, resolution, or other procedure used by the city to adopt regulatory requirements.

“Project permit” or “project permit application” means any land use or environmental permit or license required from the city for a project action, including but not limited to building permits, subdivisions, planned unit developments, conditional uses, shoreline development permits, site plan review, permits or approvals required by critical area ordinances, site specific rezones authorized by the comprehensive plan or a special planning area plan or other subarea plan, but excluding the adoption or amendment of a comprehensive plan, or a special area plan, subarea plan, or development regulations except as otherwise specifically included in this chapter.

“Regulations” includes regulations referenced in this chapter as well as development regulations as defined in RCW 36.70A.030 of the Growth Management Act.

“Wetlands” means those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs and similar areas. Wetlands do not include those artificial wetlands intentionally created from nonwetland sites, including, but not limited to, irrigation and drainage ditches, grass-lined swales, canals, detention facilities, wastewater treatment facilities, farm ponds and landscape amenities. However, wetlands do include those artificial wetlands intentionally created from nonwetland areas created to mitigate conversion of wetlands, if permitted and required by the county or city. Artificial wetlands created from nonwetland areas for purposes of wildlife enhancement, education, aesthetic or similar reasons, when not part of a compensatory (required) mitigation project, are not included within the wetland definition.

“SEPA” means Chapter 43.21C RCW.

“SEPA rules” means Chapter 197-11 WAC adopted by the Department of Ecology. (Ord. 4840 § 1, 1996.)