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A. For all developments, applicants shall demonstrate that all reasonable efforts have been examined with the intent to avoid and minimize impacts to shoreline ecological functions. Applicants shall follow the mitigation sequential descending order of preference below:

1. Avoiding the impact altogether by not taking a certain action or parts of an action;

2. Minimizing impacts by limiting the degree or magnitude of the action and its implementation, by using appropriate technology, or by taking affirmative steps, such as project redesign, relocation, or timing, to avoid or reduce impacts;

3. Rectifying the impact to wetlands, critical aquifer recharge areas, frequently flooded areas, and habitat conservation areas and their associated buffers, by repairing, rehabilitating, or restoring the affected environment to the equivalent or better than the conditions existing at the time of the initiation of the project;

4. Reducing or eliminating the impact or hazard over time by preservation and maintenance operations during the life of the action or project;

5. Compensating for the impact to wetlands, critical aquifer recharge areas, frequently flooded areas, and habitat conservation areas and their associated buffers by replacing, enhancing, or providing substitute resources or environments; and

6. Monitoring the hazard or other required mitigation and taking remedial action and appropriate corrective action to fully restore the intended ecological functions of the mitigation action, as proposed.

B. Mitigation for individual actions may include a combination of the above measures. In determining mitigation measures, lower priority measures shall be applied only where higher priority measures are determined to be infeasible or inapplicable.

C. Mitigation when required pursuant to this section shall comply with the submittal requirements as specified in Chapter 22.06 BMC.

D. Application of the mitigation sequencing in subsection (A) of this section shall achieve no net loss of shoreline ecological functions for each new development and shall not result in required mitigation in excess of that necessary to assure that development will result in no net loss of shoreline ecological function.

E. When compensatory measures are appropriate pursuant to the mitigation sequencing in subsection (A) of this section, preferential consideration shall be given to measures that replace the impacted functions directly or are in the immediate vicinity of the impact. However, alternative compensatory mitigation within the watershed that addresses limiting factors or identified critical needs for shoreline resource conservation based on the 2004 SCI, watershed or comprehensive resource management plans applicable to the area of impact may be authorized. Authorization of compensatory mitigation measures may require appropriate safeguards, terms or conditions as necessary to ensure no net loss of shoreline ecological functions. [Ord. 2013-02-005 § 2 (Exh. 1)].