| Draft Environmental Impact Statement Shorts School Road Am Antenna Structures 72 material. The presence of the AM radio grounding system will not materially interfere with the continuation of agricultural production; however, the types of crops planted may be limited to shallow crops where wires areas are located. The proposed project is located within the FEMA 100-year floodplain, but is not located within the flood way. Floodplains provide numerous functions and values to the natural and human landscape. Particularly, they help to dissipate water energy during floods allowing water to escape the river channel and inundate the surrounding terrestrial landscape. Floodplains provide coarse beds of alluvial sediments through which subsurface flow can pass, acting to filter nutrients and contaminants to maintain water quality. Activities within the floodplain areas would be temporary, short-term and localized, only minimally altering floodplain functions. The primary direct impacts on floodplains are expected to result from soil compaction and removal of vegetation, leading to possible subsequent erosion. Standard construction practices and Best Management Practices (BMP�s) would be used to minimize any impacts to the floodplain. 3.2.5 Mitigation Measures Policies & Regulations Although the originally designed proposal was consistent with applicable zoning code requirements, the changes incorporated in the current proposal reflect the significant commitment of the applicant to enhance the compatibility of the proposal with the surrounding land uses. The applicant has voluntarily exceeded the minimum zoning code standards, and has thus satisfied CUP criteria found in SCC 30.42C. The Snohomish County Council considered this in their Decision dated February 26, 2003, Section 3(b), p. 4, and determined that ��.S-R Broadcasting, in response to concerns expressed by nearby landowners, has voluntarily undertaken significant design modifications to the original proposal to substantially mitigate any adverse impacts�.� The proposed project has meet or exceeded Snohomish County policies and regulations regarding land use and shorelines. Therefore, no additional mitigation measures pertaining to land use and shorelines policies and regulations are proposed. Site/Existing Land Use Disturbance Careful planning, site management, and the implementation of all necessary Best Management and a stormwater prevention plan can avoid, minimize or reduce impacts. Restoration and mitigation can substantially rectify or compensate for impacts that cannot be avoided. Tilling of compacted areas outside of the service yard will allow for maximum useable area for agricultural practices. Crops and agricultural products that may be successfully grown on the site will include corn (using �poke in� seeding method), alfalfa and animal feed grasses, berries, turf, pumpkins, orchards and other crops and products. Animal husbandry is also a possible use. The following mitigation measures, used alone or in combination, would reduce the impacts of the proposed project on existing land uses and shorelines: |