20D.150.10 Shoreline Use Regulations.

20D.150.10-010 Scope.

The requirements of this section apply to all developments within shoreline areas. Where conflicts exist between shoreline regulations and other land use zones the shoreline regulations shall prevail. (Formerly 20C.20.210(05))

20D.150.10-020 Regulations of General Application.

(1) Access to the Water’s Edge. Access to the water’s edge shall be provided for all users/occupants of developments in shoreline areas.

(2) Water Quality Standards. All Federal and State water quality and effluent standards shall be met.

(3) Pesticide and Fertilizer Use. The use of pesticides, herbicides and/or fertilizers shall comply with regulations of responsible agencies, i.e., the Washington State Department of Agriculture, Washington State Departments of Ecology and Fisheries, and the Federal Environmental Protection Agency.

(4) Disturbance of Natural Areas. Stream bed and lake bottom disturbance shall be minimized. Wildlife and aquatic habitats shall be protected and improved. Fish spawning grounds shall not be harmed. Scenic views shall be maintained. Natural vegetation shall be preserved where possible. Natural site characteristics shall be utilized in proposed development.

(5) Floodplain Management. Floodplain development standards are defined in RCDG 20D.140.10-230.

(6) Site requirements (setbacks, building height) are defined in RCDG 20C.60.25.

      Parking facilities are prohibited in the waterfront building setbacks established in this section. All setbacks shall be measured from the line of ordinary high water. (Ord. 1693. Formerly 20C.20.210(10))

20D.150.10-030 Agricultural Uses.

(1) Structures for feeding, housing and care of hoofed animals shall be set back a minimum of 50 feet from any property line and 100 feet from the ordinary high water mark of the river. Such operations include the establishment of feeding pens or other confinement lots for livestock of any kind equivalent to 10 or more head of mature cattle which concentrate their wastes in an area less than one acre. Equivalency is based upon the estimated equivalent of animal waste.

(2) At least 100 feet of natural or planted ground cover between confinement lots and streams shall be provided.

(3) Where applicable, operational guidelines for livestock waste management found in “Livestock Waste Management Guidelines” (EM 3479), Cooperative Extension Service, W.S.U., June 1971, shall be followed. (Formerly 20C.20.210(15))

20D.150.10-040 Aquaculture.

In order to determine all pertinent factors for specific proposals, a special development permit shall be required for aquaculture activities. (Formerly 20C.20.210(20))

20D.150.10-050 Commercial Development.

(1) Commercial developments should enhance or complement the environment of the site and shall avoid a gaudy appearance in design or materials.

(2) Waterfront building setbacks from Lake Sammamish are identified in RCDG 20C.20.20-030, Site Requirements. Stream buffers are based upon stream class and are identified in RCDG 20D.140.10-100, Stream Buffers.

(3) Outdoor storage of materials and outdoor retailing or wholesaling are prohibited uses within 100 feet of the shoreline, except for small scale retail activities related to pedestrian uses of the waterfront.

(4) Development plans must clearly show what steps are being taken to protect the environmental character of the shoreline area, i.e., retention of natural buffer strips, oil separators in parking lot drainage systems, etc.

(5) Vehicular parking areas shall be permitted only when accessory to a commercial use.

      Parking facilities are prohibited in waterfront building setbacks. (Ord. 1693. Formerly 20C.20.210(25))

20D.150.10-060 Landfills.

Landfills are regulated in RCDG 20D.70.10-050. (Formerly 20C.20.210(30))

20D.150.10-070 Marine Structures.

(1) Restricted Locations. Piers, floats, marinas, boat ramps, boat launches and manmade channels, are not permitted in the following locations:

(a) Fish spawning areas and fish and aquatic mammal habitats or nesting areas as determined by the State Departments of Fish and Game;

(b) Within 100 feet of a public swimming beach unless the pier is publicly owned;

(c) Areas where beach, shoreline or channel bank erosion is likely to occur or where considerable quantities of beach and bank materials and sediment are likely to be lost to the shoreline system due to the amount of unconsolidated materials, unstable conditions, wave energy, shoreline configuration, wind strength and direction, and river, stream or lake current.

(2) Marinas in Publicly Owned Facilities. Marinas, boat ramps and boat launch sites located in publicly owned facilities such as parks must be available to the general public with no preference for private clubs or groups.

(3) Pier Length. The maximum pier length from the shoreline shall be the lesser of 80 feet or a length necessary to reach a 13-foot water depth at ordinary high water.

(4) Maximum Pier Coverage. The maximum water coverage by piers and floats shall be the lesser of 20 percent of the area bounded by the line of ordinary high water the waterward projection of the side property lines, and the waterward extremity of the pier projected parallel to the line of ordinary high water or 450 square feet.

(5) Number of Piers. There shall be no more than one pier per waterfront lot or ownership in single-family zones. In Urban Residence and Multiple Residence zones there shall be no more than one pier per 75 feet of waterfront. Small finger piers attached to the main pier are excluded from this requirement.

(6) Marine Structures in Residential Districts.

(a) Marine Accessory Structures on Shorelands. Residential marine accessory structures, such as boathouses, may extend waterward to the line of ordinary high water on Lake Sammamish provided that they are at least 12 feet from a side property line, unless they are a joint use facility. Marine accessory structures shall not exceed 10 feet in height and shall be included in the maximum lot average restrictions of the zone in which located.

(b) Marine Accessory Structures Over Water. Residential marine accessory structures over water on Lake Sammamish shall have a height limit of three feet above the ordinary high water, except for railings and storage bins which shall not project more than four feet above a deck surface.

(c) Joint Use Accessory Structures. Accessory structures that serve more than one adjoining waterfront lot may be constructed with a zero side setback from the common boundary, provided that the owners of such property enter into a reciprocal use agreement recorded with the King County Auditor.

(7) Waterfront Setback Exemption. Marine structures are not subject to the waterfront setbacks of RCDG 20C.20.20, Site Requirements. (Formerly 20C.20.210(40))

20D.150.10-080 Quarrying and Mining.

Quarrying and mining are not permitted within the shoreline. (Formerly 20C.20.210(45))

20D.150.10-090 Outdoor Advertising and Sign Regulations.

(1) Off-premises and rooftop advertising signs are prohibited. Over-water signs are prohibited unless it is clearly demonstrated that such signs protect or promote the public interest.

(2) Signs shall not degrade scenic views or vistas and shall not impair visual access to the waterfront.

(3) To prevent visual clutter and confusion, signs shall be limited in number to one per building or business face and shall contain only the name and nature of the business. Multiple signs attached to a single standard or structure are prohibited except where coordinated or designed as a single sign comprising a directory of enterprises for a complex of uses.

(4) Signs shall not exceed 25 feet in height above grade.

(5) Signs shall comply with the shoreline building setback requirement.

(6) Public safety, public information and directional signs are exempt from the provision of this section. (Formerly 20C.20.210(50))

20D.150.10-100 Residential Development Regulations.

(1) Structures above grade, other than those related to water use (such as docks, piers and boat houses), shall set back a minimum of 20 feet from the line of ordinary high water (elevation 27 feet) on Lake Sammamish. Stream buffers are based upon stream class and are identified in RCDG 20D.140.10-100, Stream Buffers. The stream buffers are measured from the ordinary high water mark. Structures shall not project into the one percent probability floodplain unless flood-proofed. In no instance may structures prevent access to a utility easement.

(2) Residential marine accessory structures are regulated in RCDG 20D.150.10-070.

(3) For purposes of determining the property boundaries and lot area on waterfront property, the following guidelines shall be used:

(a)If the property description does not include adjoining shoreland, the waterward boundary line shall be construed to be the line of ordinary high water.

(b) If the property description refers to the low water line as the waterward boundary, the owner shall be construed to have riparian rights in the adjoining shoreland lying between the line of ordinary high water and the low water line.

(c) The lot area shall include all the area landward of the line of ordinary high water on Lake Sammamish (27 feet elevation) and the area landward of the top of the bank along rivers and streams. (Ord. 1693. Formerly 20C.20.210(55))

20D.150.10-110 Shoreline Protective Structures.

(1) Location. Shoreline protective structures such as bulkheads, jetties, groins, riprap or similar protective or containment structures are not permitted where waterfront shoaling or erosion is likely to occur, where navigation will be impaired, or where a floating or open structure can be built instead of a solid wall structure.

(2) Conformance to Standards. Shoreline protective structures shall conform to the standards specified on any Federal or State permits required for such projects. (Formerly 20C.20.210(60))

20D.150.10-120 Utilities.

Utilities, as may be permitted, shall be developed subject to consideration of the following factors:

(1) Public access is provided where feasible.

(2) The project shall be combined and consolidated with other utilities where feasible.

(3) The visual quality of the site environment is maintained or enhanced through screening and landscaping or re-establishment of indigenous species for above-ground facilities. (Formerly 20C.20.210(65))

20D.150.10-130 Solid Waste Disposal.

Solid waste disposal is prohibited in the shoreline. (Formerly 20C.20.210(70))

20D.150.10-140 Dredging.

Dredging is regulated in RCDG 20D.150.20. (Formerly 20C.20.210(75))

20D.150.10-150 Road and Railroad Design and Construction.

(1) Public shoreline roadways shall be developed as scenic landscaped boulevards for slow-moving traffic, and shall include trails or walkways separated from the roadway where possible.

(2) Construction of new railroad corridors in shoreline areas is prohibited, except for grade crossings and signalling, underpasses or overpasses. The repair and reconstruction of existing facilities is permitted. (Formerly 20C.20.210(80))

20D.150.10-160 Recreational Activities.

(1) Public access to the water’s edge for recreational activities shall be provided in shoreline developments whenever feasible.

(2) The use of motorized vehicles in shoreline recreation areas shall be limited to public streets.

(3) Recreation developments shall provide parking spaces to handle public use, and shall be designed to have a minimum impact on the natural environment.

(4) All public parking areas shall meet the requirements in RCDG 20D.130.10-050, Parking Specifications.

(5) Power-operated water vehicles may be operated on the Sammamish River but shall be excluded from streams. (Formerly 20C.20.210(85))