ࡱ> Root EntrysQ- 7y賂mPerfectOffice_MAIN&%PerfectOffice_OBJECTS,blbl  !"#$&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz{|}~Hdconcise.Applicationswhichareunclearorimprecisewillbereturned.3=t݌̌  L #%(("L 3    @ 32%  3  .3  0 @   ApplicationswhichproposeacceptablealterationswithinCoastalBufferZones(asdeterminedbyCRMCstaff)willbeprocessedasa Category AandwillreceiveadministraIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcdefghtiveapproval.IncaseswhereCRMCstaffdeterminestheapplicationtobeunacceptable,aneffortwillbemadetonegotiatearesolutionwiththeapplicant.Ifafavorableresolutioncannotbereached.CRMCstaffwillmakearecommendationtotheExecutiveDirectorthattheapplicationbeprocessedasaCategory BreviewrequiringfinaldecisionbythefullCoastalCouncil.3݌̌  L $5((#L 3    @ 325  4  .3  0 @   AllproposalsforCoastalBufferZonemanagementshouldinvolveminoralterationswhichdonotdepreciatethevaluesandfunctionsofCoastalBufferZonesasdefinedbySection150oftheRICRMP.Ataminimum, atleast '", sixtypercent(60%) ofabufferzoneshallremaincompletelyunaltered.Typically,CoastalBufferZone b(#- ManagementPlanswhichaffect 25%orless ofabufferzonearemorelikelytobeapproved.Areastoremain ,)|$. unalteredshouldbeclearlyidentifiedontheproposedplans.Anexceptiontotherequirementisallowedfor SuburbanCoastalBufferZones 󀄀seeSectionB.6ofthisGuidancematerial.3݌ * &0 Ќ  L %E(($L 3    @ 32E  5  .3  0 @   Whereappropriate,CoastalBufferZonemanagementmaybeappliedtoCoastalBanks.However,theCRMCmayimposegreaterrestrictionsonalterationsaffectingcoastalbanks.3ʔ݌̌   -()4 L &U((%L 3    @ 3U2U  6  .3  0 @   Treedamageandremovalincaseswhereasmallnumberofdead,diseased,orstormdamagedtreesneedtoberemovedfromabufferzone,theapplicantmayrequestanexpeditedreview.Insuchcases,adescriptionofworkandaphotographoftheareamaybesufficientforCRMCreview.3T݌̌  B.Managementoptionswithincoastalbufferzones:  ,  ;   ;?0 @ 2U  1  .3  0@(#(#  ShorelineAccessPaths󀄀Pathwayswhichprovideaccesstotheshorelinearenormallyconsideredappropriate. h Pathwaysmaybe6'wideorlessandfollowawinding,butdirectpaththatdoesnotpromoteerosionwithinthebufferzone.Shorelineaccesspathsmustbedesignedtominimizedisturbanceandmaybeprohibitedinsensitivehabitatareas,includingbutnotlimitedto,coastalwetlands.Pathwaysmaybevegetatedwithgrassesandmowedormaybesurfacedwithcrushedstoneormulch.Fertilizersmayonlybeallowedfortheinitialestablishmentofgrassedpathways.Propersiteplansmustbesubmittedwhichshowthelocationoftheproposedpaththroughthebufferzone.ApplicantsmayalsoberequiredtodelineatethepathonsiteforCRMCstaffinspection.;?j݌̌   ;   ; 0 @ 2U  2  .3  0@(#(#  ViewCorridors󀄀Selectivetreeremovalandpruningandthinningofnaturalvegetationmaybeallowedwithina $"t& definedcorridorinordertopromoteaviewoftheshoreline.Onlytheminimalalterationofvegetationnecessarytoobtainaviewshallbeconsideredacceptable(clearcuttingisnotallowed).Shorelineaccesspaths(ifproposed)shouldbelocatedwithinaviewcorridortominimizedisturbancewithinthebuffer.ApplicantsproposingaviewcorridormustprepareaplainshowingtheviewcorridorslocationwithintheCoastalBufferZonewithrespecttoviewpointsfromadwellingorotherviewingarea.Viewcorridorsaretypicallytrapezoidalinshape,beingnarrowattheinlandedgeandexpandingtowardtheshore.Onresidentiallotsof2acresorless,only oneviewcorridor is &", typicallyconsideredacceptable.ViewCorridorsmaynotaffectmorethan 25%ofthelength oftheCoastalBuffer '"- Zoneasmeasuredalongtheshorelinefeature.ViewCorridorsmaybeprohibitedinsensitiveorcriticalhabitatareas.; K݌̌   ;   ;=0 @ 2U  3  .3  0@(#(#  HabitatManagement󀄀ThemanagementofnaturalvegetationwithinaCoastalBufferZonetowitherenhance *%1 wildlifehabitatorcontrolnuisanceand/ornonnativespeciesofvegetationmaybeallowedwhereitisdemonstratedthattheexistingenvironmentalconditionswillbeimprovedfornativeplantlifeandwildlife.Additionally,homeownercontrolofnuisancespeciesofvegetationsuchasEuropeanBittersweetandpoisonivyareconsideredacceptable withinmanagedportions ofCoastalBufferZones.However,theindiscriminateuseofherbicidesis -)5 prohibitedandfertilizersmayonlybeusedtoenhancethereplantingofnativevegetation.Inaddition,maintainingabufferzoneina landscapedcondition,orestablishinglawnarenotconsideredappropriatehabitatmanagementactivitiesandareprohibited.InCoastalBufferZonesencompassing oneacre ormore,clearingmaybeallowedto < establishfieldconditionswhichcontain native grassesandherbaceousplants.Insuchcases,clearingforfield V establishmentshallnotaffectmorethan 25% oftheCoastalBufferZone.AllBufferZoneManagementplans   involvinghabitatmanagementwithinaCoastalBufferZoneofoneacreormore,orinsensitiveorcriticalhabitatareas(asdeterminedbyCRMCstaff)shallsubmitabufferzonemanagementplanpreparedbyaqualifiedenvironmentalprofessionalorbiologist.;=h݌̌   ;   ;0 @ 2U  4  .3  0@(#(#  SafetyandWelfare󀄀SelectivetreeremovalandpruningandthinningofnaturalvegetationwithinaCoastal    BufferZonemaybeallowedonacasebycasebasisforprovensafetyandwelfareconcerns(e.g.,removalofadamagedordiseasedtreeincloseproximitytoadwelling).Inordertopromotechildsafetyandmanagepetsinareasharboringticks,fencesalongtheinlandedgeofaCoastalBufferZoneandalongshorelineaccesspathsorshorelinerecreationareasmaybepermitted(fencesmustbeofan opentypeconstructiontopermitthepassageofwildlife,e.g.splitrailorsimilar).CoastalBufferZonemanagementplansshallincludemethodsofavoidingproblemareassuchastheproperplacementandmaintenanceofpaths.;݌̌   ;   ;0 @ 2U  5  .3  0@(#(#  ShorelineRecreation󀄀TheCRMCrecognizesthatshorelinerecreationisoneofthepredominantattractionsfor 2  livingon,orvisitingtheRhodeIslandcoast.Inordertoallowforsuchuses,minoralterationsofCoastalBufferZonesmaybepermittedalongtheshorelineiftheyaredeterminedtobeconsistentwithCRMCsgoalsandpoliciesasnotedintheRhodeIslandCoastalResourcesManagementProgram(RICRMP).Appropriatealterationstypicallyincludemaintainingasmallclearingalongtheshoreforpicnictables,benches,andrecreationcraft(dinghies,canoes,daysailboats,etc.).Additionally,whereappropriate,theCRMCmayallowsmall (200sq.ft.totalfloor  space,orless) ,nonhabitablestructuresincludingstoragesheds,boathouses,andgazeboswithinCoastalBuffer  Zones.DuetothepotentialforthesestructurestoimpactnaturalvaluesprovidedbyCoastalBufferZones,theCouncilshallexercisesignificantdiscretioninthisarea.;ѫ݌̌   ;   ;u0 @ 2U  6  .3  0@(#(#  SuburbanCoastalBufferZones󀄀WheretheCoastalBufferZonerequirementis 25'orless(asperRICRMP  Section150,Table2a) ,theCRMCshallconsidersuchbufferzones SuburbanCoastalBufferZones.Suburban p CoastalBufferZonesmaybemanagedintheirentirety(100%)byselectivetreeremoval,selectivepruning,selectivethinningandrestorativeplanting.However,theCRMCmayrequirethatseveraltreesbemaintainedorplantedtoprotectscenicquality.;u݌̌  L ' (&L 3   32  A  .3  0 @   Appropriatetechniquesformanagingvegetationwithinacoastalbufferzone: 3۳݌ .# Ќ   ;   ;0 @ 2  1  .3  0@(#(#  SelectiveTreeRemoval󀄀Incaseswheretheapplicantwishestoremoveafewselecttrees,treesproposedtobe j!% cutmustbespecificallyidentifiedforCRMCstaffreview.Inmostcases,photographsofthebufferareamaybesufficientprovidedtheaffectedtreesareclearlyshowninrelationtothesurroundingbufferandshoreline.TreesmayalsobemarkedonsitetoallowinspectionbyCRMCstaff.InordertominimizedisturbanceandallowmonitoringbyCRMCstaff,treestumpsoffallentreesshallnotberemoved.CRMCstaffmaymakeafollowupinspectiontoverifythatonlymarkedtreeswerecutbaseduponstumpcounts.Shouldtheapplicantwishtoremoveafallentreefromthebufferzone,thismustbeperformedinamannerwhichdoesnotdisturbremainingvegetation.Selectivetreeremovalisoftenapreferredtechniquefortheestablishmentofaviewcorridor.;݌̌   ;   ; 0 @ 2  2  .3  0@(#(#  SelectivePruning󀄀PruningasdefinedforCRMCpurposesinvolvescuttingbranchesfromtrees,treesaplingsand `(#. shrubs.ForcertainCoastalBufferZoneManagementoptions,pruningthetopsofshrubsandforestundergrowth(topping)maybeappropriatetodiscouragegrowthinheight.Onlevelground,shrubsandforestundergrowthshouldbeprunedtoaheightof notlessthan4'5' .Inareaswherethegroundsurfacedescendtowardthe *&1 shoreline,toppingshouldonlybeperformedtoaheightthatallowsaviewofthewater.Applicantsproposingpruningmustdescribeindetailtheworkproposed,providephotographsandasiteplan,and/ormarkthoseportionsoftheCoastalBufferZonewherevegetationtobeprunedshouldbeidentifiedsincesomespeciesofvegetationcannottolerateexcessivepruningortopping.Selectivepruningisoftenapreferredtechniquefortheestablishment -)5 ofaviewcorridor.; 4݌̌   ;   ;0 @ 2  3  .3  0@(#(#  SelectiveThinning󀄀ThinningasdefinedforCRMCpurposesinvolvestheselectiveremovaloftreesaplings, < shrubsandvinesoccurringinbrushareasandintheundergrowthofforestedbufferzones.Applicantsproposingthinningmustdescribeindetailtheworkproposed,providephotographsandasiteplan,and/ormarkareastobethinnedonsite.ThespeciesofvegetationtoberemovedfromaCoastalBufferZonemanagementareamustbedifferentiatedfromthosespecieswhicharetoberetainedandencouraged.Selectivethinningisoftenapreferredtechniqueinareaswherehabitatmanagementwillbeperformed.;̽݌̌   ;   ;0 @ 2  4  .3  0@(#(#  RestorativePlanting󀄀ForpurposesofCoastalBufferZoneManagement,restorativeplantingshallbestrictly    definedastheplantingorreplantingof naturalvegetationnativetotheRhodeIslandshoreline .However, l   naturalizedspeciessuchasRugosaRosemaybeallowed,asdeterminedbyCRMCstaff.Theplantingofnonnative,landscapeandexoticspecies,inmostcases,shallnotbeconsideredappropriateinCoastalBufferZones.;݌̌   ;   ;0 @ 2  5  .3  0@(#(#  Mowing󀄀Inmostcases,mowingofvegetationwithinaCoastalBufferZoneshallbeprohibitedunlessassociated   withtheestablishmentandmaintenanceofshorelineaccesspathorapprovedshorelinerecreationarea.However,forcertainhabitatmanagementoptions,annualorbiannualmowingmaybeallowedtomaintainfieldvegetationwheresuchvegetationisconsideredvaluabletowildlifeandothernaturalvalues.Insuchcases,mowingshallbeconfinedto 25% oftheCoastalBufferZonearea,orless.;݌   Ќ   ;   ;{0 @ 2  6  .3  0@(#(#  Clearing󀄀ClearingorclearcuttingofvegetationwithinaCoastalBufferZoneshallonlybeallowedforthe 0 establishmentofshorelineaccesspaths,shorelinerecreationareasandincertaincases,habitatmanagementoptionswhicharedesignedtomaintainafieldofnativegrassesandherbaceousplants.Clearingshallnotaffectmorethan 25% oftheCoastalBufferZonearea.ClearingforhabitatmanagementshallnotbeallowedinCoastalBuffer  Zonesoflessthanoneacre.;{݌̌  L (( 'L ;   ;0 @ 2  7  .3  0@(#(#  Fillingandgrading󀄀Minorfilling(10cubicyardsorless)andgradingshallonlybeallowedinCoastalBuffer ( Zoneareasfortheestablishmentofshorelineaccesspathsandshorelinerecreationareas.Certainminorcuttingandfillingactivitiesmayalsobeallowedonacasebycasebasistopromotetheseuses.Fillingandgradingshallnotbeallowedforhabitatmanagementoptions.;݌̌  Figure10.Exampleofanadequatebufferzonemanagementplandrawnbyowner.   WPC] `W417=4΍T kOq`Wo>ު/VN D-$1w~2bC;" ͳ6lA{U!S0 +QRJ߳I}|65N+PQ[WksDHoct+o)w"r)DġI}u#X,S7|\1Yi_l)52ANlǹIYu􏴀Ihg! -ft* !-Z-[X t*Rm9JDj5smb֡׉R|enEQNPϣ ENmqS󵮑6.~8[=ywtlkxrJ T%20Z03ck1y3&N m@ U>W 1 1u 0!c 0(!w 0k 0  UNU f a 1 1@ 1 1N 1 1\ 1 1j 1 1x 1 1 1  1 1 1 1) 1 175UH;N5f8a: AN D+@Fo?\?LZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZLZ B"["[ 0D?[ D3[ 0D[ 0K[ AQE\\ 0D\]HP LaserJet 4Si MX,,,,,,0(9 Z6Times New Roman RegularX($lB(c UEUUUUUK$(!3|x U\  `&Times New Roman CEKQY_ekqAutoList1A.1.(a)a.A.A.A.A.3#37=CIQYag1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)(;3$2#  0  .3  0  (O;$0  2#  a  .3  0` (#(#(b$0  0` (#(#2#   .3  0 ` (#` (#(xir$0  0` (#(#0 ` (#` (#2#(  0  )3  0 (# (#  CRMP CRMCDesbonnetNarragansettbiodiversityRIDEM ISDSRICRMPplantlife(hH  Z6Times New Roman Regular4TABLE A(EhCEKQW]cioAutoList21.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.(UhCEKQW]cioAutoList31.1.1.1.1.1.1.1. :CEKQY_ekqAutoList41.1.(a)1.1.1.1.1.(uhCEKQW]cioAutoList5a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.(hCEKQW]cioAutoList6a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.(hCEKQW]cioAutoList7a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.(hCEKQW]cioAutoList81.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.(hCEKQW]cioAutoList91.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.(գEGMSY_ekqAutoList101.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.(EGMSY_ekqAutoList111.1.1.1.1.1.1.1. EGMSY_ekqAutoList121.1.a.1.1.1.1.1.(EGMSY_ekqAutoList131.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.(EGMSY_ekqAutoList141.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.(%EGMSY_ekqAutoList151.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.(5EGMSY_ekqAutoList161.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.(EEGMSY_ekqAutoList171.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.(UEGMSY_ekqAutoList181.1.1.1.1.1.1.1. EGMSY_ekqAutoList19A.1.A.A.A.A.A.A. EGMSY_ekqAutoList201.1.1.1.1.1.1.1. + Z"  _$Q)AZ0Arial Narrow RegularLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 + Z"  _4TABLE A+X[1 I&mage <=8C HKKKK'dxd3C:\WINDOWS\DESKTOP\RHODEP~1.GIFWPC``222`` 3f3333f333ff3fffff3f3f̙3f3333f3333333333f3333333f3f33ff3f3f3f3333f3333333f3̙333333f333ff3ffffff3f33f3ff3f3f3ffff3fffffffffff3fffffff3fff̙ffff3fffff3f3333f333ff3fffff3f3f̙3f3f3333f333ff3fffff̙̙3̙f̙̙̙3f̙3f3f3333f333ff3fffff3f3f̙3f (((555CCCPPP]]]kkkxxx;2} P     ^^^^^^  ]RxSxRxS -  ,+-       GCCD.^^ ]\ZYXC; 3/}/y.v.t.O#-M-L,J,I,H+H+H*H*H)H)H(H'H'H'H&H& "&"%"%"#:E ;EZE\E]D^D_D_D׃_Dׂ_D^D^D^D^C^C^C]C]C]C]Cׂ\C׃\Cׅ\C[CZCZZ Y X W W VׂUׂRׂOׂM ׂKJׂIKׂFLׂCNׂPׂfׂ`ׂ2 ...1   ### kkkkkkkkkkkkk   HBGAG@F?E>=<;<=>?2׬ABC"#$$ $ (  666< $######"g2@@C:\WINDOWS\DESKTOP\RHODEP~1.GIFC:\WINDOWS\Desktop\rhodepic1.gif|+x+]4|+ T5T5)FEgz d(3$ !  VVVV'dxd(3$ !  ( $ Figure  1  ]ZX^YC<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$   1  !  _XX   **A*_#**Ax#**RHODEISLANDCOASTALZONEPROGRAM#**#*XO X* #Xd;X X*XOY#X XXXd;  \  #Xd;X XX{#*XO XXXd;#* X*XO6#RhodeIslandCoastalResourcesManagementCouncil(401)2222476#*#   @@ TheRhodeIslandCoastalZoneBufferProgram   @@..& % AdoptedApril1994,RICRMP  &  %& Section140Setbacks   AmendSection140.Ctoreadasfollows: -,Xr` XX- @r "C.Setbacksshallextendaminimumdistanceofeitherfifty(50)feetfromtheinlandboundaryofthecoastal   featureortwentyfive(25)feetinlandoftheedgeofaCoastalBuffer# # Zone,whicheverisfurtherlandward.Inareas h   designatedbytheCouncilasCriticalErosionAreas(Table2),theminimumdistanceofthesetbackshallbenotlessthan30timesthecalculatedaverageannualerosionrateforlessthanfourdwellingunitsandnotlessthan60timesthecalculatedaverageannualerosionrateforprojectsproposingmorethan4dwellingsunits.# #    SECTION150COASTALBUFFERZONES  l  L  3 LX X # XX#Section150.   CoastalBufferZones  r ЀA.Definition   Ѐ1.ACoastalBufferZoneisalandareaadjacenttoaShoreline(Coastal)Featurethatis,orwillbe,vegetatedwithnativeshorelinespeciesandwhichactsasanaturaltransitionzonebetweenthecoastandadjacentuplanddevelopment.ACoastalBufferZonediffersfromaconstructionsetback(Section140)inthatthesetbackestablishesaminimumdistancebetweenashorelinefeatureandconstructionactivities,whileabufferzoneestablishesanaturalareaadjacenttoashorelinefeaturethatmustberetainedin,orrestoredto,anaturalvegetativecondition(Figure2).TheCoastalBufferZoneisgenerallycontainedwithintheestablishedconstructionsetback.̀h024$ ` 2] `#E hp02<,(`~0   `#E   j p (#(#    1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# 1!(#1!(# (#(#1!(#1!(#B.Findings ,'|"+ Ѐ1.TheestablishmentofCoastalBufferZonesisbasedupontheCRMC'slegislativemandatetopreserve,protectand,wherepossible,restoreecologicalsystems.̀2.Vegetatedbufferzoneshavebeenappliedasbestmanagementpracticeswithinthefieldsofforestryandagriculturesincethe1950stoprotectin-streamhabitatsfromdegradationbytheinputofsedimentandnutrients(Desbonnetetal1993).̀ |-(3 Morerecently,vegetatedbufferzoneshavegainedpopularityasabestmanagementpracticeforthecontrolandabatementofnonpointsourcepollutants(contaminatedrunoff)andareroutinelyappliedinbothengineeredandnaturalsettings(Desbonnetetal1993;EPA1993).̀3.CoastalBufferZonesprovidemultipleusesandmultiplebenefitstothoseareaswheretheyareapplied(Desbonnetetal1993).ThemultipleusesandbenefitsofCoastalBufferZonesinclude:̀(a)ProtectionofWaterQuality:Bufferzonesalongtheperimeterofcoastalwaterbodiescanbeeffectiveintrappingsediments,pollutants(includingoil,detergents,pesticides,herbicides,insecticides,woodpreservativesandotherdomesticchemicals),andabsorbingnutrients(particularlynitrogen)fromsurfacewaterrunoffandgroundwaterflow.Theeffectivenessofvegetatedbuffersasabestmanagementpracticeforthecontrolofnonpointsourcerunoffisdependentupontheirabilitytoreducethevelocityofrunoffflowtoallowforthedepositionofsediments,andthefiltrationandbiologicalremovalofnutrientswithinthevegetatedarea.Ingeneral,theeffectivenessofanyvegetatedbufferisrelatedtoitswidth,slope,soiltype,andresidentspeciesofvegetation.̀Effectivebuffersfornonpointsourcepollutioncontrol,whichremoveatleast50%,andupto99%,ofsedimentsandnutrientsenteringthem,rangefrom15feetto600feetinwidth.̀Theremovalofpollutantscanbeofparticularimportanceinareasabuttingpoorlyflushedestuariesthatarethreatenedbyanexcessofnutrientsorarecontaminatedbyrunoffwater,suchastheSouthShoreSaltPondsandtheNarrowRiver.Large,wellflushedwaterbodies,suchasNarragansettBay,arealsosusceptibletononpointsourcepollutantinputs,andcanbeseverelyimpactedbynonpointsourcepollutantsashasbeendocumentedinstudiescompletedfortheNarragansettBayProject.̀(b)ProtectionofCoastalHabitat:CoastalBufferZonesprovidehabitatfornativeplantsandanimals.Vegetationwithinabufferzoneprovidescoverfrompredationandclimate,andhabitatfornestingandfeedingbyresidentandmigratoryspecies.Somespecieswhichusecoastalbufferzonesarenowrelativelyuncommon,whileothersareconsideredrare,threatenedorendangered.TheseplantsandanimalsareessentialtothepreservationofRhodeIsland'svaluablecoastalecosystem.̀Theeffectivenessofvegetatedbuffersaswildlifehabitatisdependentuponbufferwidthandvegetationtype.Ingeneral,thewiderthebufferthegreateritsvalueaswildlifehabitat.Largerbufferwidthsaretypicallyneededforspeciesthataremoresensitivetodisturbances(e.g.,noise).Furthermore,thosebuffersthatpossessvegetationnativetotheareaprovidemorevaluablehabitatforsustainingresidentspecies.Adiversityofplantspeciesandtypes(e.g.,grasses,shrubsandtrees)promotesbiodiversitywithinthebufferarea,andtheregionoverall.̀(c)ProtectionofScenicandAestheticQuality:OneoftheprimarygoalsoftheCouncilistopreserve,protect,andwherepossiblerestorethescenicvalueofthecoastalregioninordertoretainthevisualdiversityanduniquevisualcharacteroftheRhodeIslandcoastasseenbyhundredsofthousandsofresidentsandtouristseachyearfromboats,bridges,andsuchvantagepointsasroadways,publicparks,andpublicbeaches(Section330).CoastalBufferZonesenhanceandprotectRhodeIsland'sscenicandvisualaestheticresourcesalongthecoast.Coastalbuffersalsopreservethenaturalcharacteroftheshoreline,whilemitigatingthevisualimpactsofcoastaldevelopment.Visualdiversityprovidesforbothcontrastandreliefbetweenthecoastalandinlandregions,leadingtogreateraestheticvalueofthelandscape.̀(d)ErosionControl:CoastalBufferZonespro-videanaturaltransitionzonebetweentheopencoast,shorelinefeaturesanduplanddevelopment.NaturalvegetationwithinaCoastalBufferZonehelpstostabilizethesoil,reducesthevelocityofsurfacewaterrunoff,reduceserosionofthesoilbyspreadingrunoffwateroverawidearea,andpromotesabsorptionandinfiltrationthroughthedetrital(leaf)layerandunderlyingsoils.Theextensiverootzonesoftenassociatedwithbufferzonevegetationalsohelppreventexcessiveshorelineerosion -)4 duringcoastalstormeventsbystabilizingunderlyingsoils.̀(e)FloodControl:CoastalBufferZonesaidinfloodcontrolbyreducingthevelocityofrunoffandbyencouraginginfiltrationofprecipitationandrunoffintothegroundratherthanallowingrunofftoflowoverlandandfloodlowlyingareas.Inaddition,CoastalBufferZonesoftenoccupythefloodplainitselfandthusaddtocoastalfloodprotection.̀(f)ProtectionofHistoricandArchaeologicalResources:CoastalBufferZonesprotectareasofculturalandhistoricimportancesuchasarchaeologicalsitesbyhelpingpreventintrusionwhileprotectingthesites'naturalsurroundings.C.Prerequisites )%/ Ѐ(a)AllapplicationsforwhichthisSectionappliesshallbeinitiallyreviewedbytheExecutiveDirectororhisdesignee.TheExecutiveDirectormaygrantavarianceforsuchapplicationsinaccordancewiththissection,orreferanyapplicationtotheCouncilforahearingifbasedupontheapplicationadeterminationismadethattheproposedactivitywarrantsaCouncilhearing. -)4 ЀD.Policies z Ѐ1.TheestablishmentofaCoastalBufferZoneisbasedupontheCRMC'slegislativemandatetopreserve,protectand,wherepossible,restoreecologicalsystems.ThedeterminationoftheinlandboundaryoftheCoastalBufferZonemustbalancethismandatewiththepropertyowner'srightstodevelopandusetheproperty.̀2.TheCouncilshallrequireCoastalBufferZonesinaccordancewiththerequirementsofthissectionforthefollowing:a)newresidentialdevelopment;b)commercialandindustrialdevelopment;c)activitiessubjecttoSection300.8andSection300.13;andd)inlandactivitiesidentifiedinSection320.Forexistingresidentialstructures,theCouncilshallrequireaCoastalBufferZoneforcategory"A"and"B"activitieswhenthefootprintofthestructureisexpanded50percentormore.̀3.Thevegetationwithinabufferzonemustbeeitherretainedinanatural,undisturbedcondition,orproperlymanagedinaccordancewiththestandardscontainedinthissection.Incaseswherenativeflora(vegetation)doesnotexistwithinabufferzone,theCouncilmayrequirerestorationeffortswhichinclude,butarenotlimitedto,replantingtheCoastalBufferZonewithnativeplantspecies.̀4.CoastalBufferZonesshallremaincoveredwithnativefloraandinanundisturbedstateinordertopromotetheCouncil'sgoalofpre-serving,protecting,andrestoringecologicalsystems.However,theCouncilmaypermitminoralterationstoCoastalBufferZonesthatfacilitatethecontinuedenjoymentofRhodeIsland'scoastalresources.AllalterationstoCoastalBufferZonesoralterationstothenaturalvegetation(ie:areasnotpresentlymaintainedinalandscapedcondition)withintheCouncil'sjurisdictionshallbeconductedinaccordancewiththestandardscontainedinthissectionaswellasallotherapplicablepoliciesandstandardsoftheCouncil.Inordertoensurecompliancewiththeserequirements,theCouncilmayrequireapplicantstosubmitaBufferZoneManagementPlan. Table2a.CoastalBufferZonedesignationsforresidential development. #U # N *.V/ddd Xdd Xdd X(#(#,pdd +    ЀWaterUsèCategory  ЀResidentialLotTypeTypèSize3,4,5,&61&2̀(sq.ft.)____________________________________________________̀RequiredBuffer̀(ft)  \!% Ѐ<10,00015.0  25"& Ѐ10,00020,000250 $ 0|$$0||50|#' Ѐ20,00140,000500 $ 0|$$0||75B$( Ѐ40,00160,000750 $ 0|$$100%X )|| Ѐ60,00180,0001000 | 0||125%!* Ѐ80,001200,0001250 | 0||150&!+ Ѐ>200,0001500 | 200#Z'",||  #[#[9#̀5.Inordertoenhanceconservation,protectwaterquality,andmaintainthelowintensityusecharacteristicofType1and2waters,greaterbufferwidthsshallbeappliedalongthecoastlineabuttingthesewatertypes.̀6.Incriticalareasandwhenthepropertyownerownsadjoininglots,theselotsshallbeconsideredasonelotforthepurposesofapplyingthevaluescontainedinTable2aandensuringthattheappropriatebufferzoneisestablished. -&)3 ЀE.Standards z Ѐ1.AllCoastalBufferZonesshallbemeasuredfromtheinlandedgeofthemostinlandShoreline(Coastal)Feature.Ininstanceswhenthecoastalfeatureaccountsfor50percentormoreofthelot,theCouncilmaygrantavariancetotherequiredbufferwidth.̀2.CoastalBufferZoneRequirementsforNewResidentialDevelopment:TheminimumCoastalBufferZonerequirementsfornewresidentialdevelopmentborderingRhodeIsland'sshorelinearecontainedinTable2a.TheCoastalBufferZonerequirementsarebaseduponthesizeofthelotandtheCRMC'sdesignatedWaterTypes(Type1-Type6).Wherethebufferzonerequirementsnotedabovecannotbemet,theapplicantmayrequestavarianceinaccordancewithSection120.Avarianceto50%oftherequiredbufferwidthmaybegrantedadministrativelybytheExecutiveDirectoriftheapplicanthassatisfiedtheburdensofproofforthegrantingofavariance.Whereitisdeterminedthattheapplicanthasnotsatisfiedtheburdensofproof,ortherequestedvarianceisinexcessof50%oftherequiredwidth,theapplicationshallbereviewedbythefullCouncil.Instanceswherealotisequaltoorlessthan20,000squarefeetandnotlocatedwithinthewatershedofapoorly-flushedestuary,avariancetotherequiredbufferwidthmaybegrantedbytheExecutiveDirector.̀3.CoastalBufferZoneRequirementsforAlterationstoExistingResidentialStructures.(a)Wherealterationstoanexistingresidentialstructureresultintheexpansionofthestructure'sfootprint(squarefootageofthegroundfloorareaencompassedbythestructuralfoundationofanexistingbuilding)oflessthan50percent,nonewcoastalbufferzoneshallberequired.(b)Wherealterationstoanexistingresidentialstructureresultintheexpansionofthestructure'sfootprint(squarefootageofthegroundfloorareaencompassedbythestructuralfoundationofanexistingbuilding)50percentormore,theCoastalBufferZonerequirementshallbeestablishedwithawidthequaltothepercentageincreaseinastructure'sfootprintasofAugust8,1995,multipliedbythevaluecontainedinTable2a([squarefootincreaseoffootprint/squarefootageasofAugust8,1995]XvaluecontainedinTable2a=CoastalZoneBufferRequirement).̀(c)CoastalBufferZonesshallnotberequiredwhenastructureisdemolishedandrebuiltontheexistingfootprint.Whereastructureisdemolishedandrebuiltandwillresultinanexpansionof50%ormoreoftheexistingfootprintofthestructure,aCoastalBufferZoneshallbeestablishedwithawidthequaltothepercentageincreaseinastructure'sfootprint,multipliedbythevaluecontainedinTable2a([squarefootincreaseoffootprint/squarefootage])XvaluecontainedinTable2a=CoastalZoneBufferRequirement.(d)Anystructurethatisdemolishedmustmeetapplicablesetbackrequirements.̀Inaddition,theExecutiveDirectorshallhavetheauthoritytograntavariancetothisrequirementforcategory"A"assentsinaccordancewiththeburdensofproofcontainedinSection120.4.CoastalBufferZoneRequirementsforallCommercialandIndustrialdevelopmentandactivitiessubjecttotherequirementsofSection300.8,Section300.13,orSection320:CoastalBufferZonesshallbedeterminedonacase-by-casebasisbytheCouncil.Table2amaybeusedasappropriateguidance.However,dependingontheactivityproposedanditspotentialimpactsoncoastalresources,theCouncilmayrequireaCoastalBufferZonewithawidthgreaterthanthatfoundintheTable2a.̀5.Allpropertyabuttingcriticalhabitatareas,asdefinedbytheRhodeIslandNationalHeritageProgramortheCouncil,shallpossessaminimumvegetatedbufferzoneof200feetbetweentheidentifiedhabitatandanydevelopmentarea.TheExecutiveDirectorshallhavetheauthoritytograntavariancetotheserequirementsinaccordancewiththeburdensofproofcontainedinSection120. -)4 Ѐ6.AllpropertyabuttingCoastalNaturalAreas(Section210.4)shallhaveaminimumvegetatedCoastalBufferZoneof25feetfromtheinlandedgeofthecoastalfeature.TheExecutiveDirectorshallhavetheauthoritytograntavariancetotheserequirementsinaccordancewiththeburdensofproofcontainedinSection120.̀7.AllpropertylocatedwithintheboundariesofaSpecialAreaManagement(SAM)PlanapprovedbytheCouncilshallmeetadditionalbufferzonerequirementscontainedwithintheseSAMplans.WhenaSAMplan'sbufferzonerequirementsapply,thebufferwidthvaluescontainedinthissectionwillbecomparedtothoserequiredbytheSAMplan,andthelargerofthebufferwidthsapplied.̀8.Thesetback(Section140)forallnewandexistingresidential,commercial,andindustrialstructuresshallexceedtheCoastalBufferZonerequirementbyaminimumof25feetforfire,safety,andmaintenancepurposes.Wherethe25footseparationdistancebetweentheinlandedgeofthebufferandconstructionsetbackcannotbeobtained,theapplicantmayrequestavarianceinaccordancewithSection120.TheExecutiveDirectorshallhavetheauthoritytograntvariancestothisrequirement.However,avegetatedCoastalBufferZoneshallnotdirectlycontactanydwelling'sfootprint.̀F.BufferManagementandMaintenanceRequirements -)4 Ѐ1.AllalterationswithinestablishedCoastalBufferZonesoralterationstonaturalvegetation(i.e.,areasnotpresentlymaintainedinalandscapedcondition)withintheCouncil'sjurisdictionmayberequiredtosubmitaBufferZoneManagementPlanfortheCouncil'sapprovalthatisconsistentwiththerequirementsofthissectionandtheCouncil'smostrecenteditionofBufferZoneManagementGuidance.BufferZoneManagementPlansshallincludeadescriptionofallproposedalterationsandmethodsofavoidingproblemareassuchastheproperplacementandmaintenanceofpathways.ApplicantsshouldconsulttheCouncil'smostrecenteditionofBufferZoneManagementGuidancewhenpreparingabuffermanagementplan.̀2.InordertopromotetheCouncil'sgoaltopreserve,protectand,wherepossible,restoreecologicalsystems,CoastalBufferZonesshallbevegetatedwithnativefloraandretainedinanatural,undisturbedcondition,orshallbeproperlymanagedinaccordancewithCouncil'smostrecenteditionofBufferZoneManagementGuidance.Suchmanagementactivitiescompatiblewiththisgoalinclude,butarenotlimitedto:̀(a)ShorelineAccessPaths:Pathwayswhichprovideaccesstotheshorelinearenormallyconsideredpermissibleprovidedtheyarelessthanorequalto6feetwideandfollowapaththatminimizeserosionandgullyingwithinthebufferzone(e.g.,awinding,butdirectpath).Pathwaysshouldavoid,ormaybeprohibitedin,sensitivehabitatareas,including,butnotlimitedto,coastalwetlands.Pathwaysmaybevegetatedwithgrassesandmowedormaybesurfacedwithcrushedstoneormulch.̀(b)ViewCorridors:Selectivetreeremovalandpruningandthinningofnaturalvegetationmaybeallowedwithinadefinedcorridorinordertopromoteaviewoftheshoreline.OnlytheminimalalterationofvegetationnecessarytoobtainaviewshallbeacceptabletotheCouncil.ShorelineaccesspathsshallbelocatedwithinviewcorridorstothemaximumextentpracticableinordertominimizedisturbanceofCoastalBufferZones.Viewcorridorsshallbeprohibitedinsensitiveorcriticalhabitatareas.̀(c)HabitatManagement:Managementofnaturalvegetationwithinabufferzonetoenhancewildlifehabitatandcontrolnuisanceandnon-nativespeciesofvegetationmaybeallowed.HomeownercontrolofpestspeciesofvegetationsuchasEuropeanbittersweetandnuisancespeciessuchaspoisonivyisnormallyconsideredacceptable.However,theindiscriminateuseofherbicidesortheclear-cuttingofvegetationshallbeprohibited.TheuseoffertilizersisgenerallyprohibitedwithintheCoastalBufferZoneexceptwhenusedtoenhancethereplantingofnativevegetation(e.g.,hydro-seeding)approvedbytheCouncil.However,theclearingoroutrighteliminationofnaturalvegetationforsuchpurposesascontrollingticksorpollenshallnotbepermitted.̀(d)SafetyandWelfare:Selectivetreeremoval,pruningandthinningofnaturalvegetationwithinaCoastalBufferZonemaybeallowedbytheCouncilonacase-by-casebasisforprovensafetyandwelfareconcerns(e.g.,removalofadamagedtreeincloseproximitytoadwelling).Inordertopromotechildsafetyandmanagepetsinareasharboringticks,fencesalongtheinlandedgeofaCoastalBufferZoneandalongshorelineaccesspathwaysmaybepermitted.̀(e)ShorelineRecreation:TheCRMCrecognizesthatshorelinerecreationisoneofthepredominantattractionsforlivingon,orvisitingtheRhodeIslandCoast.Inordertoallowforsuchuses,minoralterationsofbufferzonesmaybepermittedalongtheshorelineiftheyaredeterminedtobeconsistentwithCouncil'srequirements.Thesealterationsmayincludemaintainingasmallclearingalongtheshoreforpicnictables,benches,andrecreationalcraft(dinghies,canoes,daysailboats,etc.).Additionally,theCRMCmayallowsmall,non-habitablestructuresincludingstoragesheds,boathousesandgazeboswithinCoastalBufferZones,whereappropriate.However,thesestructuresmaybeprohibitedinsensitiveorcriticalhabitatareas.DuetothepotentialforthesestructurestoimpactvaluesprovidedbyCoastalBufferZones,theCouncilshallexercisesignificantdiscretioninthisarea.XO X *%0 #X&X XXOi ##[XX&aZ#f\)2"`r `E '<ttT ff\-2"`r `E '<ttT f (#(#(#(# h  (#(#(#(# 3   32  B  .3  0 @   Findings 3݌ H"% Ќ   ;   ;X0 @ 2  1  .3  0@(#(#  TheestablishmentofCoastalBufferZonesisbasedupontheCRMCslegislativemandatetopreserve,protectand,wherepossible,restoreecologicalsystems.;X݌̌   ;   ;0 @ 2  2  .3  0@(#(#  Vegetatedbufferzoneshavebeenappliedasbestmanagementpracticeswithinthefieldsofforestryandagriculturesincethe1950stoprotectinstreamhabitatsfromdegradationbytheinputofsedimentandnutrients(Desbonnetet.al.1993).Morerecently,vegetatedbufferzoneshavegainedpopularityasabestmanagementpracticeforthecontrolandabatementofnonpointsourcepollutants(contaminatedrunoff)andareroutinelyappliedinbothengineeredandnaturalsettings(Desbonnetet.al.1993;EPA1993).;݌̌   ;   ;z0 @ 2  3  .3  0@(#(#  CoastalBufferZonesprovidemultipleusesandmultiplebenefitstothoseareaswheretheyareapplied(Desbonnetet.al.1993).ThemultipleusesandbenefitsofCoastalBufferZonesinclude:;z݌̌   -2)4 Ї? ,X, A X,X,` X? ir   irO0 @ 0@(#(#0@4(#(#2  a  .3  0@ 4(#4(#  ProtectionofWaterQuality:Bufferzonesalongtheperimeterofcoastalwaterbodiescanbeeffectiveintrapping  sediments,pollutants(includingoil,detergents,pesticides,herbicides,insecticides,woodpreservativesandotherdomesticchemicals),andabsorbingnutrients(particularlynitrogen)fromsurfacewaterrunoffandgroundwaterflow.Theeffectivenessofvegetatedbuffersasabestmanagementpracticeforthecontrolofnonpointsourcerunoffisdependentupontheirabilitytoreducethevelocityofrunoffflowtoallowforthedepositionofsediments,andthefiltrationandbiologicalremovalofnutrientswithinthevegetatedarea.Ingeneral,theeffectivenessofanyvegetatedbufferisrelatedtoitswidth,slope,soiltype,andresidentspeciesofvegetation.Effectivebuffersfornonpointsourcepollutioncontrol,whichremoveatleast50%,andupto99%,ofsedimentsandnutrientsenteringthem,rangefrom15feetto600feetinwidth.irOz݌̌   @  @  @4  @  @A Theremovalofpollutantscanbeofparticularimportanceinareasabuttingpoorlyflushed @  @  @4  @ estuariesthatarethreatenedbyanexcessofnutrientsorarecontaminatedbyrunoffwater,suchas @  @  @4  @ theSouthShoreSaltPondsandtheNarrowRiver.Large,wellflushedwaterbodies,suchas @  @  @4  @ NarragansettBay,arealsosusceptibletononpointsourcepollutantinputs,andcanbeseverely @  @  @4  @ impactedbynonpointsourcepollutantsashasbeendocumentedinstudiescompletedforthe @  @  @4  @ NarragansettBayProject. ir   ir70 @ 0@(#(#0@4(#(#2  b  .3  0@ 4(#4(#  ProtectionofCoastalHabitat:CoastalBufferZonesprovidehabitatfornativeplantsandanimals.Vegetation `  withinabufferzoneprovidescoverfrompredationandclimate,andhabitatfornestingandfeedingbyresidentandmigratoryspecies.Somespecieswhichusecoastalbufferzonesarenowrelativelyuncommon,whileothersareconsideredrare,threatenedorendangered.TheseplantsandanimalsareessentialtothepreservationofRhodeIslandsvaluablecoastalecosystem.ir7b݌̌   @  @  @4  @  @A Theeffectivenessofvegetatedbuffersaswildlifehabitatisdependentuponbufferwidthand @  @  @4  @ vegetationtype.Ingeneral,thewiderthebufferthegreateritsvalueaswildlifehabitat.Larger @  @  @4  @ bufferwidthsaretypicallyneededforspeciesthataremoresensitivetodisturbances(e.g.,noise). @  @  @4  @ Furthermore,thosebuffersthatpossessvegetationnativetotheareaprovidemorevaluablehabitat @  @  @4  @ forsustainingresidentspecies.Adiversityofplantspeciesandtypes(e.g.,grasses,shrubsand @  @  @4  @ trees)promotesbiodiversitywithinthebufferarea,andtheregionoverall. ir   ir#0 @ 0@(#(#0@4(#(#2  c  .3  0@ 4(#4(#  ProtectionofScenicandAestheticQuality: [OneoftheprimarygoalsoftheCouncilistopreserve,protect,and X wherepossiblerestorethescenicvalueofthecoastalregioninordertoretainthevisualdiversityanduniquevisualcharacteroftheRhodeIslandcoastasseenbyhundredsofthousandsofresidentsandtouristseachyearfromboats,bridges,andsuchvantagepointsasroadways,publicparks,andpublicbeaches(Section330).CoastalBufferZonesenhanceandprotectRhodeIsland'sscenicandvisualaestheticresourcesalongthecoast.Coastalbuffersalsopreservethenaturalcharacteroftheshoreline,whilemitigatingthevisualimpactsofcoastaldevelopment.Visualdiversityprovidesforbothcontrastandreliefbetweenthecoastalandinlandregions,leadingtogreateraestheticvalueofthelandscape.#[ }$#ir##݌ :# Ќ   ir   ir$(0 @ 0@(#(#0@4(#(#2  d  .3  0@ 4(#4(#  ErosionControl: [CoastalBufferZonesprovideanaturaltransitionzonebetweentheopencoast,shoreline z!% featuresanduplanddevelopment.NaturalvegetationwithinaCoastalBufferZonehelpstostabilizethesoil,reducesthevelocityofsurfacewaterrunoff,reduceserosionofthesoilbyspreadingrunoffwateroverawidearea,andpromotesabsorptionandinfiltrationthroughthedetrital(leaf)layerandunderlyingsoils.Theextensiverootzonesoftenassociatedwithbufferzonevegetationalsohelppreventexcessiveshorelineerosionduringcoastalstormeventsbystabilizing#[ (# [underlyingsoils.#[ ԑ+#ir$(O(݌ x% * Ќ  ?, A X,X, A X? ir   ir],0 @ 0@(#(#0@4(#(#2  e  .3  0@ 4(#4(#  FloodControl: [CoastalBufferZonesaidinfloodcontrolbyreducingthevelocityofrunoffandbyencouraging 'X", infiltrationofprecipitationandrunoffintothegroundratherthanallowingrunofftoflowoverlandandfloodlowlyingareas.Inaddition,CoastalBufferZonesoftenoccupythefloodplainitselfandthusaddtocoastalfloodprotection.#[ 3-#ir],,݌ r)$/ Ќ   ir   ir/0 @ 0@(#(#0@4(#(#2  f  .3  0@ 4(#4(#  ProtectionofHistoricandArchaeologicalResources:CoastalBufferZonesprotectareaofculturalandhistoricimportancesuchasarchaeologicalsitesbyhelpingpreventintrusionwhileprotectingthesitesnaturalsurroundings.ir/A/݌̌   .j)5  C.0 @ Policies    ;   ;L10 @ 2  1  .3  0@(#(#  TheestablishmentofaCoastalBufferZoneisbasedupontheCRMC'slegislativemandatetopreserve,protectand,wherepossible,restoreecologicalsystems.ThedeterminationoftheinlandboundaryoftheCoastalBufferZonemustbalancethismandatewiththepropertyowner'srightstodevelopandusetheproperty.;L1w1݌̌   ;   ;H30 @ 2  2  .3  0@(#(#   [TheCouncilshallrequireCoastalBufferZonesinaccordancewiththerequirementsofthissectionforthe T  following:a)newresidentialdevelopment;b)commercialandindustrialdevelopment;c)activitiessubjecttoSection300.8andSection300.13;andd)inlandactivitiesidentifiedinSection320.Forexistingresidentialstructures,theCouncilshallrequireaCoastalBufferZoneforcategory"A"and"B"activitieswhentheRIDEMrequiresthemodificationorexpansionofanexistingsepticsystemorwhenthefootprintofthestructureisexpanded.#[ 3#;H3s3݌ R   Ќ   ;   ;60 @ 2  3  .3  0@(#(#  [Thevegetationwithinabufferzonemustbeeitherretainedinanatural,undisturbedcondition,orproperly 2  managedinaccordancewiththestandardscontainedinthissection.Incaseswherenativeflora(vegetation)doesnotexistwithinabufferzone,theCouncilmayrequirerestorationeffortswhichinclude,butarenotlimitedto,replantingtheCoastalBufferZonewithnativeplantspecies.#[77#;66݌ L  Ќ   ;   ;W90 @ 2  4  .3  0@(#(#  [CoastalBufferZonesshallremaincoveredwithnativefloraandinanundisturbedstateinordertopromotethe , Council'sgoalofpreserving,protecting,andrestoringecologicalsystems.However,theCouncilmaypermitminoralterationstoCoastalBufferZonesthatfacilitatethecontinuedenjoymentofRhodeIsland'scoastalresources.AllalterationstoCoastalBufferZonesoralterationstothenaturalvegetation(i.e.,areasnotpresentlymaintainedinalandscapedcondition)withintheCouncil'sjurisdictionshallbeconductedinaccordancewiththestandardscontainedinthissectionaswellasallotherapplicablepoliciesandstandardsoftheCouncil.Inordertoensurecompliancewiththeserequirements,theCouncilmayrequireapplicantstosubmitaBufferZoneManagementPlan.#[9#;W99݌  Ќ   [Table2a.CoastalBufferZonedesignationsforresidential development. #[ԭ=# 4 *Vddd Xdd Xdd X(#(#,pdd +    Ѐ񀀀񀀀WaterUsè񀀀񀀀Category > ЀResidentialLotTypeTypèSize3,4,5,&61&2̀(sq.ft.)񀀀____________________________________________________̀RequiredBuffer̀(ft)   $ Ѐ<10,00015.0  25!<% Ѐ10,00020,000250 $ 0|$$0||50"& Ѐ20,00140,000500 $ 0|$$0||75x#' Ѐ40,00160,000750 $ 0|$$100>$(|| Ѐ60,00180,0001000 | 0||125%T ) Ѐ80,001200,0001250 | 0||150%!* Ѐ>200,0001500 | 200#&!+||  # ;   ;F0 @ 2  5  .3  0@(#(#   [Inordertoenhanceconservation,protectwaterquality,andmaintainthelowintensityusecharacteristicoftype1  and2waters,greaterbufferwidthsshallbeappliedalongthecoastlineabuttingthesewatertypes.#[ hG#;FF݌ \ Ќ   ;   ;H0 @ 2  6  .3  0@(#(#   [Incriticalareasandwhenthepropertyownerownsadjoininglots,theselotsshallbeconsideredasonelotforthe <  purposesofapplyingthevaluescontainedinTable2aandensuringthattheappropriatebufferzoneisestablished.#[ iI#;HH݌Root EntrysQ- 7yDmPerfectOffice_MAIN&{PerfectOffice_OBJECTS,blblbranchesfromtrees,treesaplingsand `(#. shrubs.ForcertainCoastalBufferZoneManagementoptions,pruningthetopsofshrubsandforestundergrowth(topping)maybeappropriatetodiscouragegrowthinheight.Onlevelground,shrubsandforestundergrowthshouldbeprunedtoaheightof notlessthan4'5' .Inareaswherethegroundsurfacedescendtowardthe *&1 shoreline,toppingshouldonlybeperformedtoaheightthatallowsaviewofthewater.Applicantsproposingpruningmustdescribeindetailtheworkproposed,providephotographsandasiteplan,and/ormarkthoseportionsoftheCoastalBufferZonewherevegetationtobeprunedshouldbeidentifiedsincesomespeciesofvegetationcannottolerateexcessivepruningortopping.Selectivepruningisoftenapreferredtechniquefortheestablishment -)5 ofaviewcorridor.; 4݌̌   ;   ;0 @ 2  3  .3  0@(#(#  SelectiveThinning󀄀ThinningasdefinedforCRMCpurposesinvolvestheselectiveremovaloftreesaplings, < shrubsandvinesoccurringinbrushareasandintheundergrowthofforestedbufferzones.Applicantsproposingthinningmustdescribeindetailtheworkproposed,providephotographsandasiteplan,and/ormarkareastobethinnedonsite.ThespeciesofvegetationtoberemovedfromaCoastalBufferZonemanagementareamustbedifferentiatedfromthosespecieswhicharetoberetainedandencouraged.Selectivethinningisoftenapreferredtechniqueinareaswherehabitatmanagementwillbeperformed.;̽݌̌   ;   ;0 @ 2  4  .3  0@(#(#  RestorativePlanting󀄀ForpurposesofCoastalBufferZoneManagement,restorativeplantingshallbestrictly    definedastheplantingorreplantingof naturalvegetationnativetotheRhodeIslandshoreline .However, l   naturalizedspeciessuchasRugosaRosemaybeallowed,asdeterminedbyCRMCstaff.Theplantingofnonnative,landscapeandexoticspecies,inmostcases,shallnotbeconsideredappropriateinCoastalBufferZones.;݌̌   ;   ;0 @ 2  5  .3  0@(#(#  Mowing󀄀Inmostcases,mowingofvegetationwithinaCoastalBufferZoneshallbeprohibitedunlessassociated   withtheestablishmentandmaintenanceofshorelineaccesspathorapprovedshorelinerecreationarea.However,forcertainhabitatmanagementoptions,annualorbiannualmowingmaybeallowedtomaintainfieldvegetationwheresuchvegetationisconsideredvaluabletowildlifeandothernaturalvalues.Insuchcases,mowingshallbeconfinedto 25% oftheCoastalBufferZonearea,orless.;݌   Ќ   ;   ;{0 @ 2  6  .3  0@(#(#  Clearing󀄀ClearingorclearcuttingofvegetationwithinaCoastalBufferZoneshallonlybeallowedforthe 0 establishmentofshorelineaccesspaths,shorelinerecreationareasandincertaincases,habitatmanagementoptionswhicharedesignedtomaintainafieldofnativegrassesandherbaceousplants.Clearingshallnotaffectmorethan 25% oftheCoastalBufferZonearea.ClearingforhabitatmanagementshallnotbeallowedinCoastalBuffer  Zonesoflessthanoneacre.;{݌̌  L (( 'L ;   ;0 @ 2  7  .3  0@(#(#  Fillingandgrading󀄀Minorfilling(10cubicyardsorless)andgradingshallonlybeallowedinCoastalBuffer ( Zoneareasfortheestablishmentofshorelineaccesspathsandshorelinerecreationareas.Certainminorcuttingandfillingactivitiesmayalsobeallowedonacasebycasebasistopromotetheseuses.Fillingandgradingshallnotbeallowedforhabitatmanagementoptions.;݌̌  Figure10.Exampleofanadequatebufferzonemanagementplandrawnbyowner.   WPC[p {qXHlkja 5SoRKf1BkĩpDB~@L*Q{DzūvC"%.h_m3Q(q>݀B m~ ɑ jqܱfSER1^UT& bv,mXN H㖴ώ)hv}y"P|;3*/ m@ U >W 1 1u 0!c 0(!w 0k 0  UNU f a 1 1@ 1 1N 1 1\ 1 1j 1 1x 1 1 1  1 1 1 1) 1 175UH;N5f8a: AN D+@Fo?\?LZM"[ 01&[ 0=W[ 0[ 0>\\ 0\ 0d] 0^ 0a^ 0-_ 0_ 09` 0` 02a 0a 0:b 0c 0_c 0 c 0ke 0kf B*2h D3\h Ch 0h 0pj 06Wk 0k 0:l 0hl 0F7mU6}mU*m Bmm 0Dm D3>n 0Dqn 0Kn AQoQo 0DpHP LaserJet 4Si MX,,,,,,0(9 Z6Times New Roman RegularX($lB(c UU U E  U [K$(!3|x U\  `&Times New Roman CEKQY_ekqAutoList1A.1.(a)a.A.A.A.A.3#37=CIQYag1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)(;3$2#  0  .3  0  (O;$0  2#  a  .3  0` (#(#(b$0  0` (#(#2#   .3  0 ` (#` (#(xir$0  0` (#(#0 ` (#` (#2#(  0  )3  0 (# (#  CRMP CRMCDesbonnetNarragansettbiodiversityRIDEM ISDSRICRMPplantlife(hH  Z6Times New Roman Regular4TABLE A(EhCEKQW]cioAutoList21.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.(UhCEKQW]cioAutoList31.1.1.1.1.1.1.1. :CEKQY_ekqAutoList41.1.(a)1.1.1.1.1.(uhCEKQW]cioAutoList5a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.(hCEKQW]cioAutoList6a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.(hCEKQW]cioAutoList7a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.(hCEKQW]cioAutoList81.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.(hCEKQW]cioAutoList91.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.(գEGMSY_ekqAutoList101.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.(EGMSY_ekqAutoList111.1.1.1.1.1.1.1. EGMSY_ekqAutoList121.1.a.1.1.1.1.1.(EGMSY_ekqAutoList131.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.(EGMSY_ekqAutoList141.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.(%EGMSY_ekqAutoList151.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.(5EGMSY_ekqAutoList161.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.(EEGMSY_ekqAutoList171.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.(UEGMSY_ekqAutoList181.1.1.1.1.1.1.1. EGMSY_ekqAutoList19A.1.A.A.A.A.A.A. EGMSY_ekqAutoList201.1.1.1.1.1.1.1. + Z"  _$Q)AZ0Arial Narrow RegularLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 + Z"  _4TABLE A+X[1 I&mage <=8C HKKKK'dxd3C:\WINDOWS\DESKTOP\RHODEP~1.GIFWPC``222`` 3f3333f333ff3fffff3f3f̙3f3333f3333333333f3333333f3f33ff3f3f3f3333f3333333f3̙333333f333ff3ffffff3f33f3ff3f3f3ffff3fffffffffff3fffffff3fff̙ffff3fffff3f3333f333ff3fffff3f3f̙3f3f3333f333ff3fffff̙̙3̙f̙̙̙3f̙3f3f3333f333ff3fffff3f3f̙3f (((555CCCPPP]]]kkkxxx;2} P     ^^^^^^  ]RxSxRxS -  ,+-       GCCD.^^ ]\ZYXC; 3/}/y.v.t.O#-M-L,J,I,H+H+H*H*H)H)H(H'H'H'H&H& "&"%"%"#:E ;EZE\E]D^D_D_D׃_Dׂ_D^D^D^D^C^C^C]C]C]C]Cׂ\C׃\Cׅ\C[CZCZZ Y X W W VׂUׂRׂOׂM ׂKJׂIKׂFLׂCNׂPׂfׂ`ׂ2 ...1   ### kkkkkkkkkkkkk   HBGAG@F?E>=<;<=>?2׬ABC"#$$ $ (  666< $######"g2@@C:\WINDOWS\DESKTOP\RHODEP~1.GIFC:\WINDOWS\Desktop\rhodepic1.gif|+x+]4|+ T5T5)FEgz0.Normal<:Definition T<GD:Definition L , ;1` hp x (#;  8.` hp x (#886Definition('z&H1      XXX(o&H2  XXX(o&H3  XXX(&H4 XXX XXX(o&H5  XXX(o&H6  XXX20Address8SP6Blockquote , , ;1` hp x (#;   8.` hp x (#8,*CITE,dl*CODEKT<6X9`(Courier NewKXXXS \  `&Times New RomanS42Emphasis6&)4Hyperlink            <:FollowedHype    4go2Keyboard KT<6X9`(Courier NewK XXXS \  `&Times New RomanS<:Preformatted/%  ,Kk (#/KT<6X9`(Courier NewKXXXS \  `&Times New RomanS/%  ,Kk (#/<:zBottom of IKL4$ ** ddI  B    ?U%2A`Arial?91L*  dd9  XXXS \  `&Times New RomanS  &0 d dJJJJ'dxddd<:zTop of ForIKL4$** ddI  B    ?U%2A`Arial?91L*  dd9  XXXS \  `&Times New RomanS  0Kl.SampleKT<6X9`(Courier NewKS \  `&Times New RomanS0.Strong 8dl6TypewriterKT<6X9`(Courier NewKXXXS \  `&Times New RomanS42Variable:8HTML MarkupB      2 0CommentB  <6X9`(Courier New%2A`Arial d(3$ !  VVVV'dxd(3$ !  ( $ Figure  1  ]ZX^YC<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$   1  !  _XX   **A*_#**Ax#**RHODEISLANDCOASTALZONEPROGRAM#**#*XO X* #Xd;X X*XOY#X XXXd;  \  #Xd;X XX{#*XO XXXd;#* X*XO6#RhodeIslandCoastalResourcesManagementCouncil(401)2222476#*#   @@ TheRhodeIslandCoastalZoneBufferProgram   @@..& % AdoptedApril1994,RICRMP  &  %& Section140Setbacks   AmendSection140.Ctoreadasfollows: -,Xr` XX- @r "C.Setbacksshallextendaminimumdistanceofeitherfifty(50)feetfromtheinlandboundaryofthecoastal   featureortwentyfive(25)feetinlandoftheedgeofaCoastalBuffer# # Zone,whicheverisfurtherlandward.Inareas h   designatedbytheCouncilasCriticalErosionAreas(Table2),theminimumdistanceofthesetbackshallbenotlessthan30timesthecalculatedaverageannualerosionrateforlessthanfourdwellingunitsandnotlessthan60timesthecalculatedaverageannualerosionrateforprojectsproposingmorethan4dwellingsunits.# #    SECTION150COASTALBUFFERZONES  l  L  3 L X X# XX# A.Definition   Ѐ1.ACoastalBufferZoneisalandareaadjacenttoaShoreline(Coastal)Featurethatis,orwillbe,vegetatedwithnativeshorelinespeciesandwhichactsasanaturaltransitionzonebetweenthecoastandadjacentuplanddevelopment.ACoastalBufferZonediffersfromaconstructionsetback(Section140)inthatthesetbackestablishesaminimumdistancebetweenashorelinefeatureandconstructionactivities,whileabufferzoneestablishesanaturalareaadjacenttoashorelinefeaturethatmustberetainedin,orrestoredto,anaturalvegetativecondition(Figure2).TheCoastalBufferZoneisgenerallycontainedwithintheestablishedconstructionsetback.̀     X X#Xd;X XX# X XXXd;   H      Figure2:CoastalBufferZone     N.` hp x (#,Xr` XN#Xd;X X X7 ##XXd; #  p02<,(`~0Z_  `#E_  cj p cc(#(# h024$ ` 2] `#E h cccc p02<,(`~0   `#E   j p  cccc cccc cccc cccc cccc cccc cccc cccc cccc cccc cccc cccc cccc cccc cccc (#(#ccB.Findings (6$- Ѐ1.TheestablishmentofCoastalBufferZonesisbasedupontheCRMC'slegislativemandatetopreserve,protectand,wherepossible,restoreecologicalsystems.̀2.Vegetatedbufferzoneshavebeenappliedasbestmanagementpracticeswithinthefieldsofforestryandagriculturesincethe1950stoprotectin-streamhabitatsfromdegradationbytheinputofsedimentandnutrients -(3 (Desbonnetetal1993).̀ |-(3 Morerecently,vegetatedbufferzoneshavegainedpopularityasabestmanagementpracticeforthecontrolandabatementofnonpointsourcepollutants(contaminatedrunoff)andareroutinelyappliedinbothengineeredandnaturalsettings(Desbonnetetal1993;EPA1993).̀3.CoastalBufferZonesprovidemultipleusesandmultiplebenefitstothoseareaswheretheyareapplied(Desbonnetetal1993).ThemultipleusesandbenefitsofCoastalBufferZonesinclude:̀(a)ProtectionofWaterQuality:Bufferzonesalongtheperimeterofcoastalwaterbodiescanbeeffectiveintrappingsediments,pollutants(includingoil,detergents,pesticides,herbicides,insecticides,woodpreservativesandotherdomesticchemicals),andabsorbingnutrients(particularlynitrogen)fromsurfacewaterrunoffandgroundwaterflow.Theeffectivenessofvegetatedbuffersasabestmanagementpracticeforthecontrolofnonpointsourcerunoffisdependentupontheirabilitytoreducethevelocityofrunoffflowtoallowforthedepositionofsediments,andthefiltrationandbiologicalremovalofnutrientswithinthevegetatedarea.Ingeneral,theeffectivenessofanyvegetatedbufferisrelatedtoitswidth,slope,soiltype,andresidentspeciesofvegetation.̀Effectivebuffersfornonpointsourcepollutioncontrol,whichremoveatleast50%,andupto99%,ofsedimentsandnutrientsenteringthem,rangefrom15feetto600feetinwidth.̀Theremovalofpollutantscanbeofparticularimportanceinareasabuttingpoorlyflushedestuariesthatarethreatenedbyanexcessofnutrientsorarecontaminatedbyrunoffwater,suchastheSouthShoreSaltPondsandtheNarrowRiver.Large,wellflushedwaterbodies,suchasNarragansettBay,arealsosusceptibletononpointsourcepollutantinputs,andcanbeseverelyimpactedbynonpointsourcepollutantsashasbeendocumentedinstudiescompletedfortheNarragansettBayProject.̀(b)ProtectionofCoastalHabitat:CoastalBufferZonesprovidehabitatfornativeplantsandanimals.Vegetationwithinabufferzoneprovidescoverfrompredationandclimate,andhabitatfornestingandfeedingbyresidentandmigratoryspecies.Somespecieswhichusecoastalbufferzonesarenowrelativelyuncommon,whileothersareconsideredrare,threatenedorendangered.TheseplantsandanimalsareessentialtothepreservationofRhodeIsland'svaluablecoastalecosystem.̀Theeffectivenessofvegetatedbuffersaswildlifehabitatisdependentuponbufferwidthandvegetationtype.Ingeneral,thewiderthebufferthegreateritsvalueaswildlifehabitat.Largerbufferwidthsaretypicallyneededforspeciesthataremoresensitivetodisturbances(e.g.,noise).Furthermore,thosebuffersthatpossessvegetationnativetotheareaprovidemorevaluablehabitatforsustainingresidentspecies.Adiversityofplantspeciesandtypes(e.g.,grasses,shrubsandtrees)promotesbiodiversitywithinthebufferarea,andtheregionoverall.̀(c)ProtectionofScenicandAestheticQuality:OneoftheprimarygoalsoftheCouncilistopreserve,protect,andwherepossiblerestorethescenicvalueofthecoastalregioninordertoretainthevisualdiversityanduniquevisualcharacteroftheRhodeIslandcoastasseenbyhundredsofthousandsofresidentsandtouristseachyearfromboats,bridges,andsuchvantagepointsasroadways,publicparks,andpublicbeaches(Section330).CoastalBufferZonesenhanceandprotectRhodeIsland'sscenicandvisualaestheticresourcesalongthecoast.Coastalbuffersalsopreservethenaturalcharacteroftheshoreline,whilemitigatingthevisualimpactsofcoastaldevelopment.Visualdiversityprovidesforbothcontrastandreliefbetweenthecoastalandinlandregions,leadingtogreateraestheticvalueofthelandscape.̀(d)ErosionControl:CoastalBufferZonespro-videanaturaltransitionzonebetweentheopencoast,shorelinefeaturesanduplanddevelopment.NaturalvegetationwithinaCoastalBufferZonehelpstostabilizethesoil,reducesthevelocityofsurfacewaterrunoff,reduceserosionofthesoilbyspreadingrunoffwateroverawidearea,andpromotesabsorptionandinfiltrationthroughthedetrital(leaf)layerandunderlyingsoils.Theextensiverootzonesoftenassociatedwithbufferzonevegetationalsohelppreventexcessiveshorelineerosion -)4 duringcoastalstormeventsbystabilizingunderlyingsoils.̀(e)FloodControl:CoastalBufferZonesaidinfloodcontrolbyreducingthevelocityofrunoffandbyencouraginginfiltrationofprecipitationandrunoffintothegroundratherthanallowingrunofftoflowoverlandandfloodlowlyingareas.Inaddition,CoastalBufferZonesoftenoccupythefloodplainitselfandthusaddtocoastalfloodprotection.̀(f)ProtectionofHistoricandArchaeologicalResources:CoastalBufferZonesprotectareasofculturalandhistoricimportancesuchasarchaeologicalsitesbyhelpingpreventintrusionwhileprotectingthesites'naturalsurroundings.C.Prerequisites )%/ Ѐ(a)AllapplicationsforwhichthisSectionappliesshallbeinitiallyreviewedbytheExecutiveDirectororhisdesignee.TheExecutiveDirectormaygrantavarianceforsuchapplicationsinaccordancewiththissection,orreferanyapplicationtotheCouncilforahearingifbasedupontheapplicationadeterminationismadethattheproposedactivitywarrantsaCouncilhearing. -)4 ЀD.Policies z Ѐ1.TheestablishmentofaCoastalBufferZoneisbasedupontheCRMC'slegislativemandatetopreserve,protectand,wherepossible,restoreecologicalsystems.ThedeterminationoftheinlandboundaryoftheCoastalBufferZonemustbalancethismandatewiththepropertyowner'srightstodevelopandusetheproperty.̀2.TheCouncilshallrequireCoastalBufferZonesinaccordancewiththerequirementsofthissectionforthefollowing:a)newresidentialdevelopment;b)commercialandindustrialdevelopment;c)activitiessubjecttoSection300.8andSection300.13;andd)inlandactivitiesidentifiedinSection320.Forexistingresidentialstructures,theCouncilshallrequireaCoastalBufferZoneforcategory"A"and"B"activitieswhenthefootprintofthestructureisexpanded50percentormore.̀3.Thevegetationwithinabufferzonemustbeeitherretainedinanatural,undisturbedcondition,orproperlymanagedinaccordancewiththestandardscontainedinthissection.Incaseswherenativeflora(vegetation)doesnotexistwithinabufferzone,theCouncilmayrequirerestorationeffortswhichinclude,butarenotlimitedto,replantingtheCoastalBufferZonewithnativeplantspecies.̀4.CoastalBufferZonesshallremaincoveredwithnativefloraandinanundisturbedstateinordertopromotetheCouncil'sgoalofpre-serving,protecting,andrestoringecologicalsystems.However,theCouncilmaypermitminoralterationstoCoastalBufferZonesthatfacilitatethecontinuedenjoymentofRhodeIsland'scoastalresources.AllalterationstoCoastalBufferZonesoralterationstothenaturalvegetation(ie:areasnotpresentlymaintainedinalandscapedcondition)withintheCouncil'sjurisdictionshal      !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGijklmnopqrstuvwxyz{|}~lbeconductedinaccordancewiththestandardscontainedinthissectionaswellasallotherapplicablepoliciesandstandardsoftheCouncil.Inordertoensurecompliancewiththeserequirements,theCouncilmayrequireapplicantstosubmitaBufferZoneManagementPlan. Table2a.CoastalBufferZonedesignationsforresidential development. #U # N *.V/ddd Xdd Xdd X(#(#,pdd +    ЀWaterUsèCategory  ЀResidentialLotTypeTypèSize3,4,5,&61&2̀(sq.ft.)____________________________________________________̀RequiredBuffer̀(ft)  \!% Ѐ<10,00015.0  25"& Ѐ10,00020,000250 $ 0|$$0||50|#' Ѐ20,00140,000500 $ 0|$$0||75B$( Ѐ40,00160,000750 $ 0|$$100%X )|| Ѐ60,00180,0001000 | 0||125%!* Ѐ80,001200,0001250 | 0||150&!+ Ѐ>200,0001500 | 200#Z'",||  #[#[9#̀5.Inordertoenhanceconservation,protectwaterquality,andmaintainthelowintensityusecharacteristicofType1and2waters,greaterbufferwidthsshallbeappliedalongthecoastlineabuttingthesewatertypes.̀6.Incriticalareasandwhenthepropertyownerownsadjoininglots,theselotsshallbeconsideredasonelotforthepurposesofapplyingthevaluescontainedinTable2aandensuringthattheappropriatebufferzoneisestablished. -&)3 ЀE.Standards z Ѐ1.AllCoastalBufferZonesshallbemeasuredfromtheinlandedgeofthemostinlandShoreline(Coastal)Feature.Ininstanceswhenthecoastalfeatureaccountsfor50percentormoreofthelot,theCouncilmaygrantavariancetotherequiredbufferwidth.̀2.CoastalBufferZoneRequirementsforNewResidentialDevelopment:TheminimumCoastalBufferZonerequirementsfornewresidentialdevelopmentborderingRhodeIsland'sshorelinearecontainedinTable2a.TheCoastalBufferZonerequirementsarebaseduponthesizeofthelotandtheCRMC'sdesignatedWaterTypes(Type1-Type6).Wherethebufferzonerequirementsnotedabovecannotbemet,theapplicantmayrequestavarianceinaccordancewithSection120.Avarianceto50%oftherequiredbufferwidthmaybegrantedadministrativelybytheExecutiveDirectoriftheapplicanthassatisfiedtheburdensofproofforthegrantingofavariance.Whereitisdeterminedthattheapplicanthasnotsatisfiedtheburdensofproof,ortherequestedvarianceisinexcessof50%oftherequiredwidth,theapplicationshallbereviewedbythefullCouncil.Instanceswherealotisequaltoorlessthan20,000squarefeetandnotlocatedwithinthewatershedofapoorly-flushedestuary,avariancetotherequiredbufferwidthmaybegrantedbytheExecutiveDirector.̀3.CoastalBufferZoneRequirementsforAlterationstoExistingResidentialStructures.(a)Wherealterationstoanexistingresidentialstructureresultintheexpansionofthestructure'sfootprint(squarefootageofthegroundfloorareaencompassedbythestructuralfoundationofanexistingbuilding)oflessthan50percent,nonewcoastalbufferzoneshallberequired.(b)Wherealterationstoanexistingresidentialstructureresultintheexpansionofthestructure'sfootprint(squarefootageofthegroundfloorareaencompassedbythestructuralfoundationofanexistingbuilding)50percentormore,theCoastalBufferZonerequirementshallbeestablishedwithawidthequaltothepercentageincreaseinastructure'sfootprintasofAugust8,1995,multipliedbythevaluecontainedinTable2a([squarefootincreaseoffootprint/squarefootageasofAugust8,1995]XvaluecontainedinTable2a=CoastalZoneBufferRequirement).̀(c)CoastalBufferZonesshallnotberequiredwhenastructureisdemolishedandrebuiltontheexistingfootprint.Whereastructureisdemolishedandrebuiltandwillresultinanexpansionof50%ormoreoftheexistingfootprintofthestructure,aCoastalBufferZoneshallbeestablishedwithawidthequaltothepercentageincreaseinastructure'sfootprint,multipliedbythevaluecontainedinTable2a([squarefootincreaseoffootprint/squarefootage])XvaluecontainedinTable2a=CoastalZoneBufferRequirement.(d)Anystructurethatisdemolishedmustmeetapplicablesetbackrequirements.̀Inaddition,theExecutiveDirectorshallhavetheauthoritytograntavariancetothisrequirementforcategory"A"assentsinaccordancewiththeburdensofproofcontainedinSection120.4.CoastalBufferZoneRequirementsforallCommercialandIndustrialdevelopmentandactivitiessubjecttotherequirementsofSection300.8,Section300.13,orSection320:CoastalBufferZonesshallbedeterminedonacase-by-casebasisbytheCouncil.Table2amaybeusedasappropriateguidance.However,dependingontheactivityproposedanditspotentialimpactsoncoastalresources,theCouncilmayrequireaCoastalBufferZonewithawidthgreaterthanthatfoundintheTable2a.̀5.Allpropertyabuttingcriticalhabitatareas,asdefinedbytheRhodeIslandNationalHeritageProgramortheCouncil,shallpossessaminimumvegetatedbufferzoneof200feetbetweentheidentifiedhabitatandanydevelopmentarea.TheExecutiveDirectorshallhavetheauthoritytograntavariancetotheserequirementsinaccordancewiththeburdensofproofcontainedinSection120. -)4 Ѐ6.AllpropertyabuttingCoastalNaturalAreas(Section210.4)shallhaveaminimumvegetatedCoastalBufferZoneof25feetfromtheinlandedgeofthecoastalfeature.TheExecutiveDirectorshallhavetheauthoritytograntavariancetotheserequirementsinaccordancewiththeburdensofproofcontainedinSection120.̀7.AllpropertylocatedwithintheboundariesofaSpecialAreaManagement(SAM)PlanapprovedbytheCouncilshallmeetadditionalbufferzonerequirementscontainedwithintheseSAMplans.WhenaSAMplan'sbufferzonerequirementsapply,thebufferwidthvaluescontainedinthissectionwillbecomparedtothoserequiredbytheSAMplan,andthelargerofthebufferwidthsapplied.̀8.Thesetback(Section140)forallnewandexistingresidential,commercial,andindustrialstructuresshallexceedtheCoastalBufferZonerequirementbyaminimumof25feetforfire,safety,andmaintenancepurposes.Wherethe25footseparationdistancebetweentheinlandedgeofthebufferandconstructionsetbackcannotbeobtained,theapplicantmayrequestavarianceinaccordancewithSection120.TheExecutiveDirectorshallhavetheauthoritytograntvariancestothisrequirement.However,avegetatedCoastalBufferZoneshallnotdirectlycontactanydwelling'sfootprint.̀F.BufferManagementandMaintenanceRequirements -)4 Ѐ1.AllalterationswithinestablishedCoastalBufferZonesoralterationstonaturalvegetation(i.e.,areasnotpresentlymaintainedinalandscapedcondition)withintheCouncil'sjurisdictionmayberequiredtosubmitaBufferZoneManagementPlanfortheCouncil'sapprovalthatisconsistentwiththerequirementsofthissectionandtheCouncil'smostrecenteditionofBufferZoneManagementGuidance.BufferZoneManagementPlansshallincludeadescriptionofallproposedalterationsandmethodsofavoidingproblemareassuchastheproperplacementandmaintenanceofpathways.ApplicantsshouldconsulttheCouncil'smostrecenteditionofBufferZoneManagementGuidancewhenpreparingabuffermanagementplan.̀2.InordertopromotetheCouncil'sgoaltopreserve,protectand,wherepossible,restoreecologicalsystems,CoastalBufferZonesshallbevegetatedwithnativefloraandretainedinanatural,undisturbedcondition,orshallbeproperlymanagedinaccordancewithCouncil'smostrecenteditionofBufferZoneManagementGuidance.Suchmanagementactivitiescompatiblewiththisgoalinclude,butarenotlimitedto:̀(a)ShorelineAccessPaths:Pathwayswhichprovideaccesstotheshorelinearenormallyconsideredpermissibleprovidedtheyarelessthanorequalto6feetwideandfollowapaththatminimizeserosionandgullyingwithinthebufferzone(e.g.,awinding,butdirectpath).Pathwaysshouldavoid,ormaybeprohibitedin,sensitivehabitatareas,including,butnotlimitedto,coastalwetlands.Pathwaysmaybevegetatedwithgrassesandmowedormaybesurfacedwithcrushedstoneormulch.̀(b)ViewCorridors:Selectivetreeremovalandpruningandthinningofnaturalvegetationmaybeallowedwithinadefinedcorridorinordertopromoteaviewoftheshoreline.OnlytheminimalalterationofvegetationnecessarytoobtainaviewshallbeacceptabletotheCouncil.ShorelineaccesspathsshallbelocatedwithinviewcorridorstothemaximumextentpracticableinordertominimizedisturbanceofCoastalBufferZones.Viewcorridorsshallbeprohibitedinsensitiveorcriticalhabitatareas.̀(c)HabitatManagement:Managementofnaturalvegetationwithinabufferzonetoenhancewildlifehabitatandcontrolnuisanceandnon-nativespeciesofvegetationmaybeallowed.HomeownercontrolofpestspeciesofvegetationsuchasEuropeanbittersweetandnuisancespeciessuchaspoisonivyisnormallyconsideredacceptable.However,theindiscriminateuseofherbicidesortheclear-cuttingofvegetationshallbeprohibited.TheuseoffertilizersisgenerallyprohibitedwithintheCoastalBufferZoneexceptwhenusedtoenhancethereplantingofnativevegetation(e.g.,hydro-seeding)approvedbytheCouncil.However,theclearingoroutrighteliminationofnaturalvegetationforsuchpurposesascontrollingticksorpollenshallnotbepermitted.̀(d)SafetyandWelfare:Selectivetreeremoval,pruningandthinningofnaturalvegetationwithinaCoastalBufferZonemaybeallowedbytheCouncilonacase-by-casebasisforprovensafetyandwelfareconcerns(e.g.,removalofadamagedtreeincloseproximitytoadwelling).Inordertopromotechildsafetyandmanagepetsinareasharboringticks,fencesalongtheinlandedgeofaCoastalBufferZoneandalongshorelineaccesspathwaysmaybepermitted.̀(e)ShorelineRecreation:TheCRMCrecognizesthatshorelinerecreationisoneofthepredominantattractionsforlivingon,orvisitingtheRhodeIslandCoast.Inordertoallowforsuchuses,minoralterationsofbufferzonesmaybepermittedalongtheshorelineiftheyaredeterminedtobeconsistentwithCouncil'srequirements.Thesealterationsmayincludemaintainingasmallclearingalongtheshoreforpicnictables,benches,andrecreationalcraft(dinghies,canoes,daysailboats,etc.).Additionally,theCRMCmayallowsmall,non-habitablestructuresincludingstoragesheds,boathousesandgazeboswithinCoastalBufferZones,whereappropriate.However,thesestructuresmaybeprohibitedinsensitiveorcriticalhabitatareas.DuetothepotentialforthesestructurestoimpactvaluesprovidedbyCoastalBufferZones,theCouncilshallexercisesignificantdiscretioninthisarea.XO X *%0 #X&X XXOi ##[XX&aZ#f\)2"`r `E '<ttT ff\-2"`r `E '<ttT f (#(#(#(# h  (#(#(#(# 3   32  B  .3  0 @   Findings 3݌ H"% Ќ   ;   ;X0 @ 2  1  .3  0@(#(#  TheestablishmentofCoastalBufferZonesisbasedupontheCRMCslegislativemandatetopreserve,protectand,wherepossible,restoreecologicalsystems.;X݌̌   ;   ;0 @ 2  2  .3  0@(#(#  Vegetatedbufferzoneshavebeenappliedasbestmanagementpracticeswithinthefieldsofforestryandagriculturesincethe1950stoprotectinstreamhabitatsfromdegradationbytheinputofsedimentandnutrients(Desbonnetet.al.1993).Morerecently,vegetatedbufferzoneshavegainedpopularityasabestmanagementpracticeforthecontrolandabatementofnonpointsourcepollutants(contaminatedrunoff)andareroutinelyappliedinbothengineeredandnaturalsettings(Desbonnetet.al.1993;EPA1993).;݌̌   ;   ;z0 @ 2  3  .3  0@(#(#  CoastalBufferZonesprovidemultipleusesandmultiplebenefitstothoseareaswheretheyareapplied(Desbonnetet.al.1993).ThemultipleusesandbenefitsofCoastalBufferZonesinclude:;z݌̌   -2)4 Ї? ,X, A X,X,` X? ir   irO0 @ 0@(#(#0@4(#(#2  a  .3  0@ 4(#4(#  ProtectionofWaterQuality:Bufferzonesalongtheperimeterofcoastalwaterbodiescanbeeffectiveintrapping  sediments,pollutants(includingoil,detergents,pesticides,herbicides,insecticides,woodpreservativesandotherdomesticchemicals),andabsorbingnutrients(particularlynitrogen)fromsurfacewaterrunoffandgroundwaterflow.Theeffectivenessofvegetatedbuffersasabestmanagementpracticeforthecontrolofnonpointsourcerunoffisdependentupontheirabilitytoreducethevelocityofrunoffflowtoallowforthedepositionofsediments,andthefiltrationandbiologicalremovalofnutrientswithinthevegetatedarea.Ingeneral,theeffectivenessofanyvegetatedbufferisrelatedtoitswidth,slope,soiltype,andresidentspeciesofvegetation.Effectivebuffersfornonpointsourcepollutioncontrol,whichremoveatleast50%,andupto99%,ofsedimentsandnutrientsenteringthem,rangefrom15feetto600feetinwidth.irOz݌̌   @  @  @4  @  @A Theremovalofpollutantscanbeofparticularimportanceinareasabuttingpoorlyflushed @  @  @4  @ estuariesthatarethreatenedbyanexcessofnutrientsorarecontaminatedbyrunoffwater,suchas @  @  @4  @ theSouthShoreSaltPondsandtheNarrowRiver.Large,wellflushedwaterbodies,suchas @  @  @4  @ NarragansettBay,arealsosusceptibletononpointsourcepollutantinputs,andcanbeseverely @  @  @4  @ impactedbynonpointsourcepollutantsashasbeendocumentedinstudiescompletedforthe @  @  @4  @ NarragansettBayProject. ir   ir70 @ 0@(#(#0@4(#(#2  b  .3  0@ 4(#4(#  ProtectionofCoastalHabitat:CoastalBufferZonesprovidehabitatfornativeplantsandanimals.Vegetation `  withinabufferzoneprovidescoverfrompredationandclimate,andhabitatfornestingandfeedingbyresidentandmigratoryspecies.Somespecieswhichusecoastalbufferzonesarenowrelativelyuncommon,whileothersareconsideredrare,threatenedorendangered.TheseplantsandanimalsareessentialtothepreservationofRhodeIslandsvaluablecoastalecosystem.ir7b݌̌   @  @  @4  @  @A Theeffectivenessofvegetatedbuffersaswildlifehabitatisdependentuponbufferwidthand @  @  @4  @ vegetationtype.Ingeneral,thewiderthebufferthegreateritsvalueaswildlifehabitat.Larger @  @  @4  @ bufferwidthsaretypicallyneededforspeciesthataremoresensitivetodisturbances(e.g.,noise). @  @  @4  @ Furthermore,thosebuffersthatpossessvegetationnativetotheareaprovidemorevaluablehabitat @  @  @4  @ forsustainingresidentspecies.Adiversityofplantspeciesandtypes(e.g.,grasses,shrubsand @  @  @4  @ trees)promotesbiodiversitywithinthebufferarea,andtheregionoverall. ir   ir#0 @ 0@(#(#0@4(#(#2  c  .3  0@ 4(#4(#  ProtectionofScenicandAestheticQuality: [OneoftheprimarygoalsoftheCouncilistopreserve,protect,and X wherepossiblerestorethescenicvalueofthecoastalregioninordertoretainthevisualdiversityanduniquevisualcharacteroftheRhodeIslandcoastasseenbyhundredsofthousandsofresidentsandtouristseachyearfromboats,bridges,andsuchvantagepointsasroadways,publicparks,andpublicbeaches(Section330).CoastalBufferZonesenhanceandprotectRhodeIsland'sscenicandvisualaestheticresourcesalongthecoast.Coastalbuffersalsopreservethenaturalcharacteroftheshoreline,whilemitigatingthevisualimpactsofcoastaldevelopment.Visualdiversityprovidesforbothcontrastandreliefbetweenthecoastalandinlandregions,leadingtogreateraestheticvalueofthelandscape.#[ }$#ir##݌ :# Ќ   ir   ir$(0 @ 0@(#(#0@4(#(#2  d  .3  0@ 4(#4(#  ErosionControl: [CoastalBufferZonesprovideanaturaltransitionzonebetweentheopencoast,shoreline z!% featuresanduplanddevelopment.NaturalvegetationwithinaCoastalBufferZonehelpstostabilizethesoil,reducesthevelocityofsurfacewaterrunoff,reduceserosionofthesoilbyspreadingrunoffwateroverawidearea,andpromotesabsorptionandinfiltrationthroughthedetrital(leaf)layerandunderlyingsoils.Theextensiverootzonesoftenassociatedwithbufferzonevegetationalsohelppreventexcessiveshorelineerosionduringcoastalstormeventsbystabilizing#[ (# [underlyingsoils.#[ ԑ+#ir$(O(݌ x% * Ќ  ?, A X,X, A X? ir   ir],0 @ 0@(#(#0@4(#(#2  e  .3  0@ 4(#4(#  FloodControl: [CoastalBufferZonesaidinfloodcontrolbyreducingthevelocityofrunoffandbyencouraging 'X", infiltrationofprecipitationandrunoffintothegroundratherthanallowingrunofftoflowoverlandandfloodlowlyingareas.Inaddition,CoastalBufferZonesoftenoccupythefloodplainitselfandthusaddtocoastalfloodprotection.#[ 3-#ir],,݌ r)$/ Ќ   ir   ir/0 @ 0@(#(#0@4(#(#2  f  .3  0@ 4(#4(#  ProtectionofHistoricandArchaeologicalResources:CoastalBufferZonesprotectareaofculturalandhistoricimportancesuchasarchaeologicalsitesbyhelpingpreventintrusionwhileprotectingthesitesnaturalsurroundings.ir/A/݌̌   .j)5  C.0 @ Policies    ;   ;L10 @ 2  1  .3  0@(#(#  TheestablishmentofaCoastalBufferZoneisbasedupontheCRMC'slegislativemandatetopreserve,protectand,wherepossible,restoreecologicalsystems.ThedeterminationoftheinlandboundaryoftheCoastalBufferZonemustbalancethismandatewiththepropertyowner'srightstodevelopandusetheproperty.;L1w1݌̌   ;   ;H30 @ 2  2  .3  0@(#(#   [TheCouncilshallrequireCoastalBufferZonesinaccordancewiththerequirementsofthissectionforthe T  following:a)newresidentialdevelopment;b)commercialandindustrialdevelopment;c)activitiessubjecttoSection300.8andSection300.13;andd)inlandactivitiesidentifiedinSection320.Forexistingresidentialstructures,theCouncilshallrequireaCoastalBufferZoneforcategory"A"and"B"activitieswhentheRIDEMrequiresthemodificationorexpansionofanexistingsepticsystemorwhenthefootprintofthestructureisexpanded.#[ 3#;H3s3݌ R   Ќ   ;   ;60 @ 2  3  .3  0@(#(#  [Thevegetationwithinabufferzonemustbeeitherretainedinanatural,undisturbedcondition,orproperly 2  managedinaccordancewiththestandardscontainedinthissection.Incaseswherenativeflora(vegetation)doesnotexistwithinabufferzone,theCouncilmayrequirerestorationeffortswhichinclude,butarenotlimitedto,replantingtheCoastalBufferZonewithnativeplantspecies.#[77#;66݌ L  Ќ   ;   ;W90 @ 2  4  .3  0@(#(#  [CoastalBufferZonesshallremaincoveredwithnativefloraandinanundisturbedstateinordertopromotethe , Council'sgoalofpreserving,protecting,andrestoringecologicalsystems.However,theCouncilmaypermitminoralterationstoCoastalBufferZonesthatfacilitatethecontinuedenjoymentofRhodeIsland'scoastalresources.AllalterationstoCoastalBufferZonesoralterationstothenaturalvegetation(i.e.,areasnotpresentlymaintainedinalandscapedcondition)withintheCouncil'sjurisdictionshallbeconductedinaccordancewiththestandardscontainedinthissectionaswellasallotherapplicablepoliciesandstandardsoftheCouncil.Inordertoensurecompliancewiththeserequirements,theCouncilmayrequireapplicantstosubmitaBufferZoneManagementPlan.#[9#;W99݌  Ќ   [Table2a.CoastalBufferZonedesignationsforresidential development. #[ԭ=# 4 *Vddd Xdd Xdd X(#(#,pdd +    Ѐ񀀀񀀀WaterUsè񀀀񀀀Category > ЀResidentialLotTypeTypèSize3,4,5,&61&2̀(sq.ft.)񀀀____________________________________________________̀RequiredBuffer̀(ft)   $ Ѐ<10,00015.0  25!<% Ѐ10,00020,000250 $ 0|$$0||50"& Ѐ20,00140,000500 $ 0|$$0||75x#' Ѐ40,00160,000750 $ 0|$$100>$(|| Ѐ60,00180,0001000 | 0||125%T ) Ѐ80,001200,0001250 | 0||150%!* Ѐ>200,0001500 | 200#&!+||  # ;   ;F0 @ 2  5  .3  0@(#(#   [Inordertoenhanceconservation,protectwaterquality,andmaintainthelowintensityusecharacteristicoftype1  and2waters,greaterbufferwidthsshallbeappliedalongthecoastlineabuttingthesewatertypes.#[ hG#;FF݌ \ Ќ   ;   ;H0 @ 2  6  .3  0@(#(#   [Incriticalareasandwhenthepropertyownerownsadjoininglots,theselotsshallbeconsideredasonelotforthe <  purposesofapplyingthevaluescontainedinTable2aandensuringthattheappropriatebufferzoneisestablished.#[ iI#;HH݌ ! Ќ  D.Standards  R # L Eh( L 3    @ 3uK2Eh  1  .3  0 @   AllCoastalBufferZonesshallbemeasuredfromtheinlandedgeofthemostinlandShoreline(Coastal)Feature.3uKK݌̌  L Uh((L 3    @ 3L2Uh  2  .3  0 @   CoastalBufferZoneRequirementsforNewResidentialDevelopment:TheminimumCoastalBufferZone j#' requirementsfornewresidentialdevelopmentborderingRhodeIslandsshorelinearecontainedinTable2a.TheCoastalBufferZonerequirementsarebaseduponthesizeofthelotandtheCRMCsdesignatedWaterTypes(Type1Type6).Wherethebufferzonerequirementsnotedabovecannotbe [met,theapplicantmayrequestavariance % !* inaccordancewithSection120.Avarianceto50%oftherequiredbufferwidthmaybegrantedadministrativelybytheExecutiveDirectoriftheapplicanthassatisfiedtheburdensofproofforthegrantingofavariance.Whereitisdeterminedthattheapplicanthasnotsatisfiedtheburdensofproof,ortherequestedvarianceisinexcessof50%oftherequiredwidth,theapplicationshallbereviewedbythefullCouncil.#[ O#Ԁ3LM݌ (@$. Ќ  L : (L 3    @ 3Q2:  1  .3  0 @   CoastalBufferZoneRequirementsforExistingResidentialStructuresthatExpandtheFootprintoftheStructure *%0 andforStructuresRequiredbytheRIDEMtoModifyorExpandanExistingSepticSystem: [Whenanexisting R+&1 residentialstructuredoesnotmeettheCouncil'sCoastalBufferZonerequirementscontainedinTable2a(e.g.,theexistingstructuredoesnothaveabufferzoneorhasabufferzonewithawidthlessthanthevaluecontainedinTable2a),thefollowingCoastalBufferZonerequirementsshallapplytoeachmodificationoftheresidential - )4 structureuntiltheproperty'sCoastalBufferZoneequals,butdoesnotexceed,thevaluecontainedinTable2a:#[ ES#3Q R݌  Ќ  L uh( L 3    @  @ 3)V2uh  a  .3  0 @4    [Wherealterationstoaresidentialstructureresultintheexpansionofthestructure'sfootprint(squarefootageofthe @ groundfloorareaencompassedbythestructuralfoundationofanexistingbuilding),theCoastalBufferZonerequirementshallbeestablishedwithawidthequaltothepercentageincreaseinastructure'sfootprintasofApril15,1994multipliedbythevaluecontainedinTable2a([squarefootincreaseoffootprint/squarefootageasofApril15,1994]XvaluecontainedinTable2a=CoastalZoneBufferRequirement);#[ V#3)VlV݌ t  Ќ  L h((L 3    @  @ 3Y2h  b  .3  0 @4    [WherealterationstoaresidentialstructureresultinanincreaseinflowtotheIndividualSewageDisposalSystem  T (ISDS)andtheRIDEMhasrequiredthemodificationorexpansionoftheexistingISDS,theCoastalBufferZonerequirementshallbeestablishedwithawidthequalto25%ofthevaluecontainedinTable2a(0.25XvaluecontainedinTable2a=CoastalBufferZonerequirement).3YZ݌̌  L h((L @  @  @4  @ Theserequirementsonlyapplytocategory"A"and"B"assents.Inaddition,theExecutive @  @  @4 directorshallhavetheauthoritytograntavariancetotheserequirementsforcategory"A"assentsin @  @  @4 accordancewiththeburdensofproofcontainedinSection120.#[ ]Z#   L h((L 3    @ 3^2h  4  .3  0 @   CoastalBufferZoneRequirementsforallCommercialandIndustrialdevelopmentandactivitiessubjecttothe &v  requirementsofSection300.8,Section300.13,orSection320: [CoastalBufferZonesshallbedeterminedonacase < byeasebasisbytheCouncil.Table2amaybeusedasappropriateguidance.However,dependingontheactivityproposedanditspotentialimpactsoncoastalresources,theCouncilmayrequireaCoastalBufferZonewithawidthgreaterthanthatfoundintheTable2a.#[ _#3^^݌ V Ќ  L h((L 3    @ 3b2h  5  .3  0 @    [Allpropertyabuttingcriticalhabitatareas,asdefinedbytheRhodeIslandNationalHeritageProgramorthe r Council,shallpossessaminimumvegetatedbufferzoneof200feetbetweentheidentifiedhabitatandanydevelopmentarea.TheExecutivedirectorshallhavetheauthoritytograntavariancetotheserequirementsinaccordancewiththeburdensofproofcontainedinSection120.#[ Ԯb#3bUb݌ , Ќ  L գ((L 3    @ 3e2գ  6  .3  0 @    [AllpropertyabuttingCoastalNaturalAreas(Section210.4)shallhaveaminimumvegetatedCoas ! Ќ  D.Standards  R # L Eh( L 3    @ 3uK2Eh  1  .3  0 @   AllCoastalBufferZonesshallbemeasuredfromtheinlandedgeofthemostinlandShoreline(Coastal)Feature.3uKK݌̌  L Uh((L 3    @ 3L2Uh  2  .3  0 @   CoastalBufferZoneRequirementsforNewResidentialDevelopment:TheminimumCoastalBufferZone j#' requirementsfornewresidentialdevelopmentborderingRhodeIslandsshorelinearecontainedinTable2a.TheCoastalBufferZonerequirementsarebaseduponthesizeofthelotandtheCRMCsdesignatedWaterTypes(Type1Type6).Wherethebufferzonerequirementsnotedabovecannotbe [met,theapplicantmayrequestavariance % !* inaccordancewithSection120.Avarianceto50%oftherequiredbufferwidthmaybegrantedadministrativelybytheExecutiveDirectoriftheapplicanthassatisfiedtheburdensofproofforthegrantingofavariance.Whereitisdeterminedthattheapplicanthasnotsatisfiedtheburdensofproof,ortherequestedvarianceisinexcessof50%oftherequiredwidth,theapplicationshallbereviewedbythefullCouncil.#[ O#Ԁ3LM݌ (@$. Ќ  L : (L 3    @ 3Q2:  1  .3  0 @   CoastalBufferZoneRequirementsforExistingResidentialStructuresthatExpandtheFootprintoftheStructure *%0 andforStructuresRequiredbytheRIDEMtoModifyorExpandanExistingSepticSystem: [Whenanexisting R+&1 residentialstructuredoesnotmeettheCouncil'sCoastalBufferZonerequirementscontainedinTable2a(e.g.,theexistingstructuredoesnothaveabufferzoneorhasabufferzonewithawidthlessthanthevaluecontainedinTable2a),thefollowingCoastalBufferZonerequirementsshallapplytoeachmodificationoftheresidential - )4 structureuntiltheproperty'sCoastalBufferZoneequals,butdoesnotexceed,thevaluecontainedinTable2a:#[ ES#3Q R݌  Ќ  L uh( L 3    @  @ 3)V2uh  a  .3  0 @4    [Wherealterationstoaresidentialstructureresultintheexpansionofthestructure'sfootprint(squarefootageofthe @ groundfloorareaencompassedbythestructuralfoundationofanexistingbuilding),theCoastalBufferZonerequirementshallbeestablishedwithawidthequaltothepercentageincreaseinastructure'sfootprintasofApril15,1994multipliedbythevaluecontainedinTable2a([squarefootincreaseoffootprint/squarefootageasofApril15,1994]XvaluecontainedinTable2a=CoastalZoneBufferRequirement);#[ V#3)VlV݌ t  Ќ  L h((L 3    @  @ 3Y2h  b  .3  0 @4    [WherealterationstoaresidentialstructureresultinanincreaseinflowtotheIndividualSewageDisposalSystem  T (ISDS)andtheRIDEMhasrequiredthemodificationorexpansionoftheexistingISDS,theCoastalBufferZonerequirementshallbeestablishedwithawidthequalto25%ofthevaluecontainedinTable2a(0.25XvaluecontainedinTable2a=CoastalBufferZonerequirement).3YZ݌̌  L h((L @  @  @4  @ Theserequirementsonlyapplytocategory"A"and"B"assents.Inaddition,theExecutive @  @  @4 directorshallhavetheauthoritytograntavariancetotheserequirementsforcategory"A"assentsin @  @  @4 accordancewiththeburdensofproofcontainedinSection120.#[ ]Z#   L h((L 3    @ 3^2h  4  .3  0 @   CoastalBufferZoneRequirementsforallCommercialandIndustrialdevelopmentandactivitiessubjecttothe &v  requirementsofSection300.8,Section300.13,orSection320: [CoastalBufferZonesshallbedeterminedonacase < byeasebasisbytheCouncil.Table2amaybeusedasappropriateguidance.However,dependingontheactivityproposedanditspotentialimpactsoncoastalresources,theCouncilmayrequireaCoastalBufferZonewithawidthgreaterthanthatfoundintheTable2a.#[ _#3^^݌ V Ќ  L h((L 3    @ 3b2h  5  .3  0 @    [Allpropertyabuttingcriticalhabitatareas,asdefinedbytheRhodeIslandNationalHeritageProgramorthe r Council,shallpossessaminimumvegetatedbufferzoneof200feetbetweentheidentifiedhabitatandanydevelopmentarea.TheExecutivedirectorshallhavetheauthoritytograntavariancetotheserequirementsinaccordancewiththeburdensofproofcontainedinSection120.#[ Ԯb#3bUb݌ , Ќ  L գ((L 3    @ 3e2գ  6  .3  0 @    [AllpropertyabuttingCoastalNaturalAreas(Section210.4)shallhaveaminimumvegetatedCoastalBufferZone l of25feetfromtheinlandedgeofthecoastalfeature.TheExecutivedirectorshallhavetheauthoritytograntavariancetotheserequirementsinaccordancewiththeburdensofproofcontainedinSection120.#[ Ԡe#3eGe݌  \  Ќ  L ((L 3    @ 3g2  7  .3  0 @    [AllpropertylocatedwithintheboundariesofaSpecialAreaManagement(SAM)PlanapprovedbytheCouncil " shallmeetadditionalbufferzonerequirementscontainedwithintheseSAMplans.WhenaSAMplan'sbufferzonerequirementsapply,thebufferwidthvaluescontainedinthissectionwillbecomparedtothoserequiredbytheSAMplan,andthelargerofthebufferwidthsapplied.#[ Oh#3gg݌ "V% Ќ  L  (L 3    @ 3j2  1  .3  0 @    [Thesetback(Section140)forallnewresidential,commercial,andindustrialstructuresshallexceedtheCoastal #' BufferZonerequirementbyaminimumof25feetforfire,safety,andmaintenancepurposes.Wherethe25footseparationdistancebetweentheinlandedgeofthebufferandconstructionsetbackcannotbeobtained,theapplicantmayrequestavarianceinaccordancewithSection120.TheExecutiveDirectorshallhavetheauthoritytograntvariancestothisrequirement.However,avegetatedCoastalBufferZoneshallnotdirectlycontactanydwelling'sfootprint.#[ =k#3jj݌ '", Ќ  E.BufferManagementandMaintenanceRequirements  $)t$.  ;   ;`n0 @ 2  1  .3  0@(#(#   [AllalterationswithinestablishedCoastalBufferZonesoralterationstonaturalvegetation(i.e.,areasnotpresently *&0 maintainedinalandscapedcondition)withintheCouncil'sjurisdictionmayberequiredtosubmitaBufferZoneManagementPlanfortheCouncil'sapprovalthatisconsistentwiththerequirementsofthissectionandtheCouncil'smostrecenteditionofBufferZoneManagementGuidance.BufferZoneManagementPlansshallinclude -j(3 adescriptionofallproposedalterationsandmethodsofavoidingproblemareassuchastheproperplacementand -4)4 maintenanceofpathways.ApplicantsshouldconsulttheCouncil'smostrecenteditionofBufferZoneManagement  Guidancewhenpreparingabuffermanagementplan.#[ n#;`nn݌ z Ќ   ;   ;r0 @ 2  2  .3  0@(#(#   [InordertopromotetheCouncil'sgoaltopreserve,protectand,wherepossible,restoreecologicalsystems,Coastal  Z BufferZonesshallbevegetatedwithnativefloraandretainedinanatural,undisturbedcondition,orshallbeproperlymanagedinaccordancewithCouncil'smostrecenteditionofBufferZoneManagementGuidance.Such  managementactivitiescompatiblewiththisgoalinclude,butarenotlimitedto:#[ ?s#;rr݌ t  Ќ      u0 @ 0@(#(#2  a  .3  0@4(#(#  ShorelineAccessPaths: [Pathwayswhichprovideaccesstotheshorelinearenormallyconsideredpermissible  T providedtheyarelessthanorequalto6feetwideandfollowapaththatminimizeserosionandgullyingwithinthebufferzone(e.g.,awinding,butdirectpath).Pathwaysshouldavoid,ormaybeprohibitedin,sensitivehabitatareas,#[ Vv#Ԁincluding,butnotlimitedto,coastalwetlands.Pathwaysmaybevegetatedwithgrassesandmowedormay n   besurfacedwithcrushedstoneormulch.uu݌̌      x0 @ 0@(#(#2  b  .3  0@4(#(#  ViewCorridors:Selectivetreeremovalandpruningandthinningofnaturalvegetationmaybeallowedwithina   definedcorridorinordertopromoteaviewoftheshoreline.OnlytheminimalalterationofvegetationnecessarytoobtainaviewshallbeacceptabletotheCouncil.ShorelineaccesspathsshallbelocatedwithinviewcorridorstothemaximumextentpracticableinordertominimizedisturbanceofCoastalBufferZones.Viewcorridorsshallbeprohibitedinsensitiveorcriticalhabitatareas.xx݌̌      {0 @ 0@(#(#2  c  .3  0@4(#(#  HabitatManagement:Managementofnaturalvegetationwithinabufferzonetoenhancewildlifehabitatand  controlnuisanceandnonnativespeciesofvegetationmaybeallowed.HomeownercontrolofpestspeciesofvegetationsuchasEuropeanbittersweetandnuisancespeciessuchaspoisonivyisnormallyconsideredacceptable.However,theindiscriminateuseofherbicidesortheclearcuttingofvegetationshallbeprohibited.TheuseoffertilizersisgenerallyprohibitedwithintheCoastalBufferZoneexceptwhenusedtoenhancethereplantingofnativevegetation(e.g.,hydroseeding)approvedbytheCouncil.However,theclearingoroutrighteliminationofnaturalvegetationforsuchpurposesascontrollingticksorpollenshallnotbepermitted.{{݌̌      0 @ 0@(#(#2  d  .3  0@4(#(#  SafetyandWelfare:Selectivetreeremoval,pruningandthinningofnaturalvegetationwithinaCoastalBuffer F ZonemaybeallowedbytheCouncilonacasebycasebasisforprovensafetyandwelfareconcerns(e.g.,removalofadamagedtreeincloseproximitytoadwelling).Inordertopromotechildsafetyandmanagepetsinareasharboringticks,fencesalongtheinlandedgeofaCoastalBufferZoneandalongshorelineaccesspathwaysmaybepermitted.݌̌      D0 @ 0@(#(#2  e  .3  0@4(#(#  ShorelineRecreation:TheCRMCrecognizesthatshorelinerecreationisoneofthepredominantattractionsfor !% livingon,orvisitingtheRhodeIslandCoast.Inordertoallowforsuchuses,minoralterationsofbufferzonesmaybepermittedalongtheshorelineiftheyaredeterminedtoconsistentwithCouncilsrequirements.Thesealterationsmayincludemaintainingasmallclearingalongtheshoreforpicnictables,benches,andrecreationalcraft(dinghies,canoes,daysailboats,etc.).Additionally,theCRMCmayallowsmall,nonhabitablestructuresincludingstoragesheds,boathousesandgazeboswithinCoastalBufferZones,whereappropriate.However,thesestructuresmaybeprohibitedinsensitiveorcriticalhabitatareas.DuetothepotentialforthesestructurestoimpactvaluesprovidedbyCoastalBufferZones,theCouncilshallexercisesignificantdiscretioninthisarea. -(4 Ї-t[@@v v RhodeIslandCoastalBufferZoneManagementGuidance )%- @@<<#[-t#&(2 %[ RevisedJanuary7,1994 +>'/  -(1 CRMCCoastalBufferZoneManagementGuidance #[ %&(2r#   A.GuidelinesforpreparinganapplicationforCoastalBufferZoneManagement:  r L !( L 3    @ 3+2  1  .3  0 @   Allproposalsforbufferzonemanagementmustbedesignedwithrespecttotheoneormoreofthe ManagementOptionsidentifiedinSection BoftheseguidelinesandmustutilizeappropriatetechniquesformanagingvegetationasdefinedinSection C.3+b݌̌  L "((!L 3    @ 3=2  2  .3  0 @   Photographsandsiteplansmustbesubmittedforallapplicationsinordertominimizetheneedforonsiteinspections.ActualfieldinspectionswillonlybeperformedwhendeemednecessarybyCRMCstaff.Allapplicationsshouldbecomplete,clearantalBufferZone l of25feetfromtheinlandedgeofthecoastalfeature.TheExecutivedirectorshallhavetheauthoritytograntavariancetotheserequirementsinaccordancewiththeburdensofproofcontainedinSection120.#[ Ԡe#3eGe݌  \  Ќ  L ((L 3    @ 3g2  7  .3  0 @    [AllpropertylocatedwithintheboundariesofaSpecialAreaManagement(SAM)PlanapprovedbytheCouncil " shallmeetadditionalbufferzonerequirementscontainedwithintheseSAMplans.WhenaSAMplan'sbufferzonerequirementsapply,thebufferwidthvaluescontainedinthissectionwillbecomparedtothoserequiredbytheSAMplan,andthelargerofthebufferwidthsapplied.#[ Oh#3gg݌ "V% Ќ  L  (L 3    @ 3j2  1  .3  0 @    [Thesetback(Section140)forallnewresidential,commercial,andindustrialstructuresshallexceedtheCoastal #' BufferZonerequirementbyaminimumof25feetforfire,safety,andmaintenancepurposes.Wherethe25footseparationdistancebetweentheinlandedgeofthebufferandconstructionsetbackcannotbeobtained,theapplicantmayrequestavarianceinaccordancewithSection120.TheExecutiveDirectorshallhavetheauthoritytograntvariancestothisrequirement.However,avegetatedCoastalBufferZoneshallnotdirectlycontactanydwelling'sfootprint.#[ =k#3jj݌ '", Ќ  E.BufferManagementandMaintenanceRequirements  $)t$.  ;   ;`n0 @ 2  1  .3  0@(#(#   [AllalterationswithinestablishedCoastalBufferZonesoralterationstonaturalvegetation(i.e.,areasnotpresently *&0 maintainedinalandscapedcondition)withintheCouncil'sjurisdictionmayberequiredtosubmitaBufferZoneManagementPlanfortheCouncil'sapprovalthatisconsistentwiththerequirementsofthissectionandtheCouncil'smostrecenteditionofBufferZoneManagementGuidance.BufferZoneManagementPlansshallinclude -j(3 adescriptionofallproposedalterationsandmethodsofavoidingproblemareassuchastheproperplacementand -4)4 maintenanceofpathways.ApplicantsshouldconsulttheCouncil'smostrecenteditionofBufferZoneManagement  Guidancewhenpreparingabuffermanagementplan.#[ n#;`nn݌ z Ќ   ;   ;r0 @ 2  2  .3  0@(#(#   [InordertopromotetheCouncil'sgoaltopreserve,protectand,wherepossible,restoreecologicalsystems,Coastal  Z BufferZonesshallbevegetatedwithnativefloraandretainedinanatural,undisturbedcondition,orshallbeproperlymanagedinaccordancewithCouncil'smostrecenteditionofBufferZoneManagementGuidance.Such  managementactivitiescompatiblewiththisgoalinclude,butarenotlimitedto:#[ ?s#;rr݌ t  Ќ      u0 @ 0@(#(#2  a  .3  0@4(#(#  ShorelineAccessPaths: [Pathwayswhichprovideaccesstotheshorelinearenormallyconsideredpermissible  T providedtheyarelessthanorequalto6feetwideandfollowapaththatminimizeserosionandgullyingwithinthebufferzone(e.g.,awinding,butdirectpath).Pathwaysshouldavoid,ormaybeprohibitedin,sensitivehabitatareas,#[ Vv#Ԁincluding,butnotlimitedto,coastalwetlands.Pathwaysmaybevegetatedwithgrassesandmowedormay n   besurfacedwithcrushedstoneormulch.uu݌̌      x0 @ 0@(#(#2  b  .3  0@4(#(#  ViewCorridors:Selectivetreeremovalandpruningandthinningofnaturalvegetationmaybeallowedwithina   definedcorridorinordertopromoteaviewoftheshoreline.OnlytheminimalalterationofvegetationnecessarytoobtainaviewshallbeacceptabletotheCouncil.ShorelineaccesspathsshallbelocatedwithinviewcorridorstothemaximumextentpracticableinordertominimizedisturbanceofCoastalBufferZones.Viewcorridorsshallbeprohibitedinsensitiveorcriticalhabitatareas.xx݌̌      {0 @ 0@(#(#2  c  .3  0@4(#(#  HabitatManagement:Managementofnaturalvegetationwithinabufferzonetoenhancewildlifehabitatand  controlnuisanceandnonnativespeciesofvegetationmaybeallowed.HomeownercontrolofpestspeciesofvegetationsuchasEuropeanbittersweetandnuisancespeciessuchaspoisonivyisnormallyconsideredacceptable.However,theindiscriminateuseofherbicidesortheclearcuttingofvegetationshallbeprohibited.TheuseoffertilizersisgenerallyprohibitedwithintheCoastalBufferZoneexceptwhenusedtoenhancethereplantingofnativevegetation(e.g.,hydroseeding)approvedbytheCouncil.However,theclearingoroutrighteliminationofnaturalvegetationforsuchpurposesascontrollingticksorpollenshallnotbepermitted.{{݌̌      0 @ 0@(#(#2  d  .3  0@4(#(#  SafetyandWelfare:Selectivetreeremoval,pruningandthinningofnaturalvegetationwithinaCoastalBuffer F ZonemaybeallowedbytheCouncilonacasebycasebasisforprovensafetyandwelfareconcerns(e.g.,removalofadamagedtreeincloseproximitytoadwelling).Inordertopromotechildsafetyandmanagepetsinareasharboringticks,fencesalongtheinlandedgeofaCoastalBufferZoneandalongshorelineaccesspathwaysmaybepermitted.݌̌      D0 @ 0@(#(#2  e  .3  0@4(#(#  ShorelineRecreation:TheCRMCrecognizesthatshorelinerecreationisoneofthepredominantattractionsfor !% livingon,orvisitingtheRhodeIslandCoast.Inordertoallowforsuchuses,minoralterationsofbufferzonesmaybepermittedalongtheshorelineiftheyaredeterminedtoconsistentwithCouncilsrequirements.Thesealterationsmayincludemaintainingasmallclearingalongtheshoreforpicnictables,benches,andrecreationalcraft(dinghies,canoes,daysailboats,etc.).Additionally,theCRMCmayallowsmall,nonhabitablestructuresincludingstoragesheds,boathousesandgazeboswithinCoastalBufferZones,whereappropriate.However,thesestructuresmaybeprohibitedinsensitiveorcriticalhabitatareas.DuetothepotentialforthesestructurestoimpactvaluesprovidedbyCoastalBufferZones,theCouncilshallexercisesignificantdiscretioninthisarea. -(4 Ї-t[@@v v RhodeIslandCoastalBufferZoneManagementGuidance )%- @@<<#[-t#&(2 %[ RevisedJanuary7,1994 +>'/  -(1 CRMCCoastalBufferZoneManagementGuidance #[ %&(2r#   A.GuidelinesforpreparinganapplicationforCoastalBufferZoneManagement:  r L !( L 3    @ 3+2  1  .3  0 @   Allproposalsforbufferzonemanagementmustbedesignedwithrespecttotheoneormoreofthe ManagementOptionsidentifiedinSection BoftheseguidelinesandmustutilizeappropriatetechniquesformanagingvegetationasdefinedinSection C.3+b݌̌  L "((!L 3    @ 3=2  2  .3  0 @   Photographsandsiteplansmustbesubmittedforallapplicationsinordertominimizetheneedforonsiteinspections.ActualfieldinspectionswillonlybeperformedwhendeemednecessarybyCRMCstaff.Allapplicationsshouldbecomplete,clearandconcise.Applicationswhichareunclearorimprecisewillbereturned.3=t݌̌  L #%(("L 3    @ 32%  3  .3  0 @   ApplicationswhichproposeacceptablealterationswithinCoastalBufferZones(asdeterminedbyCRMCstaff)willbeprocessedasa Category Aandwillreceiveadministrativeapproval.IncaseswhereCRMCstaffdeterminestheapplicationtobeunacceptable,aneffortwillbemadetonegotiatearesolutionwiththeapplicant.Ifafavorableresolutioncannotbereached.CRMCstaffwillmakearecommendationtotheExecutiveDirectorthattheapplicationbeprocessedasaCategory BreviewrequiringfinaldecisionbythefullCoastalCouncil.3݌̌  L $5((#L 3    @ 325  4  .3  0 @   AllproposalsforCoastalBufferZonemanagementshouldinvolveminoralterationswhichdonotdepreciatethevaluesandfunctionsofCoastalBufferZonesasdefinedbySection150oftheRICRMP.Ataminimum, atleast '", sixtypercent(60%) ofabufferzoneshallremaincompletelyunaltered.Typically,CoastalBufferZone b(#- ManagementPlanswhichaffect 25%orless ofabufferzonearemorelikelytobeapproved.Areastoremain ,)|$. unalteredshouldbeclearlyidentifiedontheproposedplans.Anexceptiontotherequirementisallowedfor SuburbanCoastalBufferZones 󀄀seeSectionB.6ofthisGuidancematerial.3݌ * &0 Ќ  L %E(($L 3    @ 32E  5  .3  0 @   Whereappropriate,CoastalBufferZonemanagementmaybeappliedtoCoastalBanks.However,theCRMCmayimposegreaterrestrictionsonalterationsaffectingcoastalbanks.3ʔ݌̌   -()4 L &U((%L 3    @ 3U2U  6  .3  0 @   Treedamageandremovalincaseswhereasmallnumberofdead,diseased,orstormdamagedtreesneedtoberemovedfromabufferzone,theapplicantmayrequestanexpeditedreview.Insuchcases,adescriptionofworkandaphotographoftheareamaybesufficientforCRMCreview.3T݌̌  B.Managementoptionswithincoastalbufferzones:  ,  ;   ;?0 @ 2U  1  .3  0@(#(#  ShorelineAccessPaths󀄀Pathwayswhichprovideaccesstotheshorelinearenormallyconsideredappropriate. h Pathwaysmaybe6'wideorlessandfollowawinding,butdirectpaththatdoesnotpromoteerosionwithinthebufferzone.Shorelineaccesspathsmustbedesignedtominimizedisturbanceandmaybeprohibitedinsensitivehabitatareas,includingbutnotlimitedto,coastalwetlands.Pathwaysmaybevegetatedwithgrassesandmowedormaybesurfacedwithcrushedstoneormulch.Fertilizersmayonlybeallowedfortheinitialestablishmentofgrassedpathways.Propersiteplansmustbesubmittedwhichshowthelocationoftheproposedpaththroughthebufferzone.ApplicantsmayalsoberequiredtodelineatethepathonsiteforCRMCstaffinspection.;?j݌̌   ;   ; 0 @ 2U  2  .3  0@(#(#  ViewCorridors󀄀Selectivetreeremovalandpruningandthinningofnaturalvegetationmaybeallowedwithina $"t& definedcorridorinordertopromoteaviewoftheshoreline.Onlytheminimalalterationofvegetationnecessarytoobtainaviewshallbeconsideredacceptable(clearcuttingisnotallowed).Shorelineaccesspaths(ifproposed)shouldbelocatedwithinaviewcorridortominimizedisturbancewithinthebuffer.ApplicantsproposingaviewcorridormustprepareaplainshowingtheviewcorridorslocationwithintheCoastalBufferZonewithrespecttoviewpointsfromadwellingorotherviewingarea.Viewcorridorsaretypicallytrapezoidalinshape,beingnarrowattheinlandedgeandexpandingtowardtheshore.Onresidentiallotsof2acresorless,only oneviewcorridor is &", typicallyconsideredacceptable.ViewCorridorsmaynotaffectmorethan 25%ofthelength oftheCoastalBuffer '"- Zoneasmeasuredalongtheshorelinefeature.ViewCorridorsmaybeprohibitedinsensitiveorcriticalhabitatareas.; K݌̌   ;   ;=0 @ 2U  3  .3  0@(#(#  HabitatManagement󀄀ThemanagementofnaturalvegetationwithinaCoastalBufferZonetowitherenhance *%1 wildlifehabitatorcontrolnuisanceand/ornonnativespeciesofvegetationmaybeallowedwhereitisdemonstratedthattheexistingenvironmentalconditionswillbeimprovedfornativeplantlifeandwildlife.Additionally,homeownercontrolofnuisancespeciesofvegetationsuchasEuropeanBittersweetandpoisonivyareconsideredacceptable withinmanagedportions ofCoastalBufferZones.However,theindiscriminateuseofherbicidesis -)5 prohibitedandfertilizersmayonlybeusedtoenhancethereplantingofnativevegetation.Inaddition,maintainingabufferzoneina landscapedcondition,orestablishinglawnarenotconsideredappropriatehabitatmanagementactivitiesandareprohibited.InCoastalBufferZonesencompassing oneacre ormore,clearingmaybeallowedto < establishfieldconditionswhichcontain native grassesandherbaceousplants.Insuchcases,clearingforfield V establishmentshallnotaffectmorethan 25% oftheCoastalBufferZone.AllBufferZoneManagementplans   involvinghabitatmanagementwithinaCoastalBufferZoneofoneacreormore,orinsensitiveorcriticalhabitatareas(asdeterminedbyCRMCstaff)shallsubmitabufferzonemanagementplanpreparedbyaqualifiedenvironmentalprofessionalorbiologist.;=h݌̌   ;   ;0 @ 2U  4  .3  0@(#(#  SafetyandWelfare󀄀SelectivetreeremovalandpruningandthinningofnaturalvegetationwithinaCoastal    BufferZonemaybeallowedonacasebycasebasisforprovensafetyandwelfareconcerns(e.g.,removalofadamagedordiseasedtreeincloseproximitytoadwelling).Inordertopromotechildsafetyandmanagepetsinareasharboringticks,fencesalongtheinlandedgeofaCoastalBufferZoneandalongshorelineaccesspathsorshorelinerecreationareasmaybepermitted(fencesmustbeofan opentypeconstructiontopermitthepassageofwildlife,e.g.splitrailorsimilar).CoastalBufferZonemanagementplansshallincludemethodsofavoidingproblemareassuchastheproperplacementandmaintenanceofpaths.;݌̌   ;   ;0 @ 2U  5  .3  0@(#(#  ShorelineRecreation󀄀TheCRMCrecognizesthatshorelinerecreationisoneofthepredominantattractionsfor 2  livingon,orvisitingtheRhodeIslandcoast.Inordertoallowforsuchuses,minoralterationsofCoastalBufferZonesmaybepermittedalongtheshorelineiftheyaredeterminedtobeconsistentwithCRMCsgoalsandpoliciesasnotedintheRhodeIslandCoastalResourcesManagementProgram(RICRMP).Appropriatealterationstypicallyincludemaintainingasmallclearingalongtheshoreforpicnictables,benches,andrecreationcraft(dinghies,canoes,daysailboats,etc.).Additionally,whereappropriate,theCRMCmayallowsmall (200sq.ft.totalfloor  space,orless) ,nonhabitablestructuresincludingstoragesheds,boathouses,andgazeboswithinCoastalBuffer  Zones.DuetothepotentialforthesestructurestoimpactnaturalvaluesprovidedbyCoastalBufferZones,theCouncilshallexercisesignificantdiscretioninthisarea.;ѫ݌̌   ;   ;u0 @ 2U  6  .3  0@(#(#  SuburbanCoastalBufferZones󀄀WheretheCoastalBufferZonerequirementis 25'orless(asperRICRMP  Section150,Table2a) ,theCRMCshallconsidersuchbufferzones SuburbanCoastalBufferZones.Suburban p CoastalBufferZonesmaybemanagedintheirentirety(100%)byselectivetreeremoval,selectivepruning,selectivethinningandrestorativeplanting.However,theCRMCmayrequirethatseveraltreesbemaintainedorplantedtoprotectscenicquality.;u݌̌  L ' (&L 3   32  A  .3  0 @   Appropriatetechniquesformanagingvegetationwithinacoastalbufferzone: 3۳݌ .# Ќ   ;   ;0 @ 2  1  .3  0@(#(#  SelectiveTreeRemoval󀄀Incaseswheretheapplicantwishestoremoveafewselecttrees,treesproposedtobe j!% cutmustbespecificallyidentifiedforCRMCstaffreview.Inmostcases,photographsofthebufferareamaybesufficientprovidedtheaffectedtreesareclearlyshowninrelationtothesurroundingbufferandshoreline.TreesmayalsobemarkedonsitetoallowinspectionbyCRMCstaff.InordertominimizedisturbanceandallowmonitoringbyCRMCstaff,treestumpsoffallentreesshallnotberemoved.CRMCstaffmaymakeafollowupinspectiontoverifythatonlymarkedtreeswerecutbaseduponstumpcounts.Shouldtheapplicantwishtoremoveafallentreefromthebufferzone,thismustbeperformedinamannerwhichdoesnotdisturbremainingvegetation.Selectivetreeremovalisoftenapreferredtechniquefortheestablishmentofaviewcorridor.;݌̌   ;   ; 0 @ 2  2  .3  0@(#(#  SelectivePruning󀄀PruningasdefinedforCRMCpurposesinvolvescutting