The Critical Area Ordinances (OMC Title 13) were updated in 2015 to 2017, with final adoption in 2018.

In 2019, the Department of Health notified the City that there were some problems with how the Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas ordinance (OMC 13.10) was written, which would prohibit all subdivision and most development within most of the city. This was not the intent of the regulations, and not what is needed to protect those areas. The City worked with the Washington Departments of Health, Ecology, and Commerce to update these ordinances to make the regulations better fit what actually needs to be regulated. These updates were reviewed by the Planning Commission and City Council before being adopted August 10, 2020. 

Questions

Contact Anne Henning, Community Development Director, ahenning@othellowa.gov, 509-331-2710, 500 E. Main St, Othello, WA  99344