Building in the Scenic Area Handbook
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Building in the Scenic Area SCENIC RESOURCES IMPLEMENTATION HANDBOOK 2 Building in the Scenic Area • Scenic Resources Implementation Handbook Table of Contents Introduction & Background . page 3 Building Site Selection . page 7 Grading & Grading Plan Preparation. page 12 Color Selection . page 17 Exterior Material Selection & Reflectivity . page 21 Planting Vegetation for Screening . page 31 Acknowledgements . page 34 Introduction & Grading & Grading Plan Exterior Material Planting Vegetation Building Site Selection Color Selection Background Preparation Selection & Reflectivity for Screening 3 Introduction & Background Welcome to the Building in the Scenic Area Handbook. Ǡ Structure location and orientation. As a landowner in the Columbia River Gorge National Ǡ Structure size, color, height, shape, and exterior Scenic Area, you have an important role in preserving materials. the beauty of the Gorge’s landscape. Ǡ Plantings to help screen or shade new The Columbia River Gorge is world-renowned for its development. magnificent scenery. It is a region of diverse landscapes Ǡ Grading necessary to accommodate structures and that include lush rain forests, towering cliffs and circulation on the site. waterfalls, picturesque farmlands, and sweeping If I follow all of the grasslands. A driving force behind the Columbia River How will my project be reviewed for scenic suggestions in this Gorge National Scenic Area Act, passed by Congress in protection requirements? Handbook, will my 1986, is the value of ensuring development development be approved? complements Gorge scenery. One purpose of the The more visible a project is, the more effort it You will have a great start. National Scenic Area Act is to “protect and provide for will take to blend the development with its natural Following the recommendations the enhancement of the scenic…resources of the surroundings. Therefore, the review agency will ask you in this Handbook does not Columbia River Gorge.” The Management Plan for the for site-specific information. This information will be eliminate the need for land use Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area contains used to determine how your proposed project will look permits or guarantee your regulations to ensure new developments blend with after it is constructed. Depending on the outcome of application will be automatically the Gorge’s scenery. this assessment, the review agency may require you to modify your design or take other actions to help blend approved. Other regulations If your land can be seen from a designated Key the development with the surrounding landscape. apply to development in the Viewing Area, there are many things you can do Scenic Area. Only the review through careful design to help maintain the scenic On rare occasions a proposed project cannot meet agency can determine whether a quality the landscape. scenic standards. When this happens, the review proposal complies with all agency will look at all options (location, design, color, applicable regulations. What do scenic protection requirements do? material selection, and landscaping) to make sure the development will blend in as much as possible. Scenic regulations protect the beauty of the landscape. They may affect the design and location You and all future owners will be responsible for of development. Scenic regulations apply to: maintaining compliance with all of the conditions listed in your development approval. 4 Building in the Scenic Area • Scenic Resources Implementation Handbook Which agency will review my development How can this Handbook help me? project? What is the review agency’s role? This Handbook contains information on regulations List of Key Viewing Areas If your project is in Clark, Hood River, Multnomah, affecting the visibility of development and guides you Skamania, or Wasco counties, you will work with your through the scenic review portion of the development Historic Columbia River Highway county’s planning staff. If your land is in Klickitat application process in the Gorge. This Handbook is Crown Point County, Gorge Commission planners will review your provided to help you: Highway I-84, including rest stops project. Each review agency has its own application ġ Learn about regulations for developing land that Multnomah Falls packet. Review agencies also can provide sample site can be seen from Key Viewing Areas. Washington State Route 14 plans and application materials specific to your needs. ġ Understand the reasons for these scenic Beacon Rock Contact information for all of the review agencies is regulations. Panorama Point Park listed on page 34. ġ Cape Horn Make informed choices when selecting building The review agency is a resource for you during your Dog Mountain Trail sites, structural designs, landscaping, colors, and development project. By involving your review agency Cook-Underwood Road exterior building materials. early in your development plans and by making Rowena Plateau and ġ Prepare an application for scenic review of a informed design choices, you can make a difference in Nature Conservancy Viewpoint development proposal. Portland Women’s Forum preserving the Scenic Area’s unique scenery. County or Bridal Veil State Park Gorge Commission staff can help you understand Larch Mountain scenic protection requirements and identify topics not Rooster Rock State Park covered in this Handbook including: Bonneville Dam Visitor Centers Ǡ The zoning of your property and uses allowed in Columbia River that zone. Washington State Route 141 Ǡ How to ensure new buildings are compatible with Washington State Route 142 the size of surrounding development. Oregon Highway 35 Ǡ Any natural or cultural resources on your property Sandy River that must be preserved. Pacific Crest Trail Ǡ Potential impacts to recreational resources. Special Management Area Only: Ǡ Potential impacts to agriculture and forest land. County Road 1230 Ǡ How to ensure your development meets fire safety Wyeth Bench Road standards. Larch Mountain Road Ǡ Expedited review of some small projects. Sherrard Point on Larch Mountain Introduction & Grading & Grading Plan Exterior Material Planting Vegetation Building Site Selection Color Selection Background Preparation Selection & Reflectivity for Screening 5 Important Terms Figure 1 Key Viewing Areas are important roads, trails, Cross Sections Showing Topographic Visibility recreational sites, and other places offering the public scenic views of the Gorge. Twenty-six Key Viewing Topographic screening from a low elevation Areas have been designated within the Scenic Area and include portions of public roads, parks, trails, and other public vantage points (see list on page 4). Sight Lines Topographically Visible sites can be seen from Key Viewing Areas if all vegetation were removed (FIGURE 1). Screening vegetation is considered when the review KVA agency decides what steps must be taken to ensure a Topographically Topographically development proposal will meet scenic standards. screened visible Sight Lines Development is a broad term that includes the creation of new parcels, the construction of buildings KVA and structures, and ground-disturbing activities such as mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, and excavation. Topographic screening from a high elevation Landscape Settings are areas in the Gorge with distinct characteristics. These characteristics contribute to the beauty and diversity of the Scenic Area. Landscape settings are determined by: Urban Area, Special Management Area, and General Management Area are three categories of Ǡ Landform – such as cliffs, hillsides, and rock land in the National Scenic Area: outcroppings. Ǡ Urban areas are cities and towns. If a property is Ǡ Vegetation types and patterns – such as located in an Urban Area, a National Scenic Area grassland, forests, or pastures. development review is not required. Local Ǡ Existing land use and development patterns – regulations, zoning, and building codes still apply. including types, amount, spacing, and other aspects Ǡ Special Management Area lands include some of existing development within the landscape. of the most sensitive lands in the National Scenic Some landscape settings have specific requirements for Area. Approximately one third of the Scenic Area is plant species, building design, and building location. designated Special Management Area. The review agency will help determine which landscape Ǡ General Management Area land makes up the setting requirements apply to your project. remainder of the Scenic Area. 6 Building in the Scenic Area • Scenic Resources Implementation Handbook Figure 2 Full Range of Scenic Standards Apply in the Scenic Area Preservation Not Visually Evident Visually Subordinate Visually Dominant No development can be seen. Development is not noticeable Development is visible but not what you see Development is what you see most. Not required in the National Scenic Area. and is easily overlooked. first or remember best about the landscape. Not allowed outside urban areas Required only on a few projects in Applied in the General Management in the National Scenic Area. the Special Management Area and new Area and to most private land in the quarries in the General Management Area. Special Management Area. Scenic Standards are ways of describing how well a One of the first things you should check with your development blends with the landscape. Most review agency is the scenic standard that applies to development in the National Scenic Area must be your project. visually subordinate to the