14.32.060 Application for permits.
A. Pre-Submission Conference. Prior to application for land use permits and actions such as a land division, commercial site plan review (SPR), or a conditional use permit (CUP), a pre-submission conference shall be required consistent with the requirements of Chapter 1 of the Development Guidelines and Public Works Standards. The pre-submission conference is designed to review the proposed action and identify permit requirements and issues an applicant may incur if the project is implemented. As part of this review it should be made clear that the city of Lacey has an Urban Forest Management Plan and tree protection regulations that require early consideration of tree protection options, and that urban forest concepts and strategies shall be part of the early design considerations for new projects. Location and design of major infrastructure, buildings, and planned uses must consider the tree protection opportunities to further the purposes of the Urban Forest Management Plan.
B. Applicable Requirements. An application for a land clearing permit or information required by this chapter shall be accompanied by such of the following documents and information as are determined to be necessary by the director:
1. Site Plan. Copies of the site plan, pursuant to requirements of Chapter 1 of the Development Guidelines and Public Works Standards, which shall include the following information:
a. Name, address, and telephone number of the applicant and owner of property;
b. Legal description of property;
c. Date, north arrow, and adequate scale, as determined by the director, on the map or plot plan;
d. Topography map showing contours at not greater than ten-foot intervals of proposed clearing projects within areas of steep slopes, creeks and shorelines;
e. Location of proposed improvements, including, but not limited to, structures, roads, driveways, utilities, and storm drainage facilities. Said improvement locations shall also be staked on site to enable the city’s tree protection professional and other city staff to review improvement locations and their relationship to the site and existing vegetation;
f. Approximate and general location, type, size and condition of trees and ground cover and a general identification of trees and ground cover which are to be removed.
2. Tree Protection Professional Report. On forested property greater in size than one acre or commercial property with one or more trees, or other sites the city deems it necessary because of special circumstances or complexity, the city’s tree protection professional shall review the site and provide a report analyzing the site for tree protection consistent with the requirements of this chapter. The report should provide information important to urban forest management and options for consideration when developing preliminary designs. The report should suggest options for design to best achieve the purposes of the Urban Forest Management Plan and this chapter. The report shall include but shall not be limited to:
a. Information required under subsections (B)(1) through (7) of this section;
b. An analysis of technical information requested by the review body related to trees and forest practices;
c. Analysis of what portion of the site is best for designation of the tree tract if required, considering the intent of this chapter, soil type, topography, tree species, health of trees and reasonable project design limitations;
d. Recommendations for saving of individual tree specimens based upon the intent of this chapter, soil type, topography, tree species, health of trees, and reasonable project design limitations;
e. A plan for protection of trees to be saved during construction including placement of construction fences, monitoring of construction activity and other measures necessary to ensure adequate tree protection;
f. Consideration of the location of roads, other infrastructure, and buildings and potential options for alternative locations, if applicable, to best satisfy the purposes of the Urban Forest Management Plan;
g. A timeline for tree protection activity;
h. The final tree protection plan should be prepared on the site grading plan. All tree protection fences, trees to be saved, and trees to be removed should also be shown on the site demolition plan. Necessary save-tree pruning and selective thinning within tree tracts shall be detailed and trees marked as such. The tree protection plan and demolition plan should be part of the submittal to the city of Lacey and shall be approved by the tree protection professional. The tree protection plan shall be part of the contractor bid package and a copy of the tree protection plan shall be available to the contractors on site at all times during logging, clearing, and construction.
3. Schedule. A proposed time schedule for land clearing, land restoration, implementation of erosion control and any excavation or construction of improvements.
4. Strategy for Control. A statement indicating the method to be followed in erosion control and restoration of land during and immediately following land clearing.
5. Landscape Plan. Proposed landscape plan or written or graphic description of proposed action.
6. Areas of Saved Trees. Location of tree tracts, proposed buffers, open space, and other areas of the site where stands of trees are to be saved.
7. Revegetation. If the option for revegetation of the site or a portion of the site is proposed under LMC 14.32.069, information requirements described under LMC 14.32.069 shall be required at the time of application.
C. Review. Review shall take place as part of the underlying permit review process. Should there be no underlying land use application, the land clearing permit application shall be processed in accordance with the full administrative review procedures in Chapter 1 of the City of Lacey Development Guidelines and Public Works Standards. The review body (site plan review committee, hearing examiner, or city council) shall review the application and make a decision in accordance with review requirements of the underlying permit.
D. Expiration. Any permit granted hereunder shall run with the underlying permit or shall expire eighteen months from the date of issuance. Upon a showing of good cause, a permit may be extended by the director for one six-month period. The permit may be suspended or revoked by the director because of incorrect information supplied or any violation of the provisions of this chapter. Minor amendments of a permit may be granted by the director. Major amendments may be accomplished only by making a new application and proceeding through the requirements of this chapter and Chapter 1 of the City of Lacey Development Guidelines and Public Works Standards. Major alterations are changes that alter the intent of the original decision. What constitutes a minor or major amendment shall be left up to the discretion of the director who may consult the review body for guidance.
E. Permit Notice Posted. No work shall commence until a permit notice has been posted on the subject site in a conspicuous location. The notice shall remain posted until the project has been completed.
F. Preconstruction Conference. Prior to the start of logging and land clearing activity, a preconstruction conference shall be held with the city tree protection professional to insure the contractors understand the necessary tree protection measures prescribed in the tree protection plan and that all required tree protection fences and other required tree protection activity is completed prior to the start of site work. (Ord. 1617 §6, 2022; Ord. 1539 §20, 2019; Ord. 1269 §10, 2006).