CITY OF ANACORTES Shoreline Master Program SEPTEMBER 2010 CITY OF ANACORTES SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM September 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................... 1 1.1 Requirements of the Shoreline Management Act ....................................................1 1.2 7KH&LW\RI$QDFRUWHV¶5ROHLQ,PSOHPHQWLQJWKH6KRUHOLQH0DQDJHPHQW$FW ......1 1.3 Purposes of the Shoreline Master Program ..............................................................2 1.4 Legislative Findings .................................................................................................3 1.5 How the Shoreline Master Program is Used ............................................................4 CHAPTER 2 SCOPE, JURISDICTION, AND EXEMPTIONS............................ 7 2.1 Rule of Liberal Construction ...................................................................................7 2.2 Applicability ............................................................................................................7 2.3 Anacortes Shoreline Jurisdiction .............................................................................8 2.4 8VHV1RW&RQVWLWXWLQJ³'HYHORSPHQW´DQG([HPSWLRQVIURP6XEVWDQWLDO Development Permit Requirements .........................................................................9 2.5 Relationship to Other Plans and Regulations.........................................................17 CHAPTER 3 ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS ............................................... 19 3.1 Conditional Use Permits ........................................................................................19 3.2 Variances................................................................................................................20 3.3 Nonconforming Development ...............................................................................23 3.4 Nonconforming Uses .............................................................................................23 3.5 Nonconforming Structures .....................................................................................24 3.6 Nonconforming Lots ..............................................................................................25 CHAPTER 4 MASTER PROGRAM ELEMENTS: GOALS & POLICIES FOR THE ANACORTES SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM ......... 27 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................27 4.2 Shoreline Use Element ...........................................................................................27 4.3 Economic Development Element ..........................................................................28 4.4 Circulation Element ...............................................................................................30 4.5 Public Access Element ...........................................................................................31 4.6 Recreational Element .............................................................................................32 4.7 Conservation Element ............................................................................................34 4.8 Restoration and Adaptive Management Element ..................................................36 4.9 Historic, Cultural, Scientific, and Educational Element ........................................37 CHAPTER 5 SHORELINE ENVIRONMENTS & ASSOCIATED POLICIES AND REGULATIONS ..................................................................... 38 5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................38 5.2 Authority ................................................................................................................38 Page i 5.3 Shoreline Environment Designations ....................................................................39 5.4 Official Shoreline Environments Designation Map ...............................................39 5.5 Shorelines of Statewide Significance.....................................................................40 5.6 Aquatic ...................................................................................................................41 5.7 Natural....................................................................................................................47 5.8 Conservancy ...........................................................................................................50 5.9 Shoreline Residential .............................................................................................56 5.10 Urban......................................................................................................................62 5.11 Urban Maritime ......................................................................................................67 5.12 Shoreline Use and Modification Matrix and Development Standards ..................69 TABLE 5.1. SHORELINE USE AND MODIFICATION MATRIX. ............... 70 TABLE 5.2. SHORELINE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS MATRIX. ........ 74 FIGURE 5.1 CITY OF ANACORTES SHORELINE ENVIRONMENT DESIGNATIONS .............................................................................. 75 CHAPTER 6 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION GENERAL REGULATIONS ............................................................................... 77 6.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................77 6.2 Organization ...........................................................................................................78 6.3 Impacts, Mitigation, and Bonding .........................................................................78 6.4 Environmental Elements ........................................................................................81 6.5 Vegetation Conservation ........................................................................................86 6.6 Critical Areas - General .........................................................................................91 6.7 Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas ......................................................91 6.8 Frequently Flooded Areas and Tsunami Inundation Areas ...................................94 6.9 Geologically Hazardous Areas ..............................................................................95 6.10 Wetlands ................................................................................................................98 CHAPTER 7 SHORELINE PUBLIC ACCESS .................................................. 100 7.1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................100 7.2 Background ..........................................................................................................101 7.3 Public Access Policies .........................................................................................101 7.4 Development Regulations ....................................................................................104 CHAPTER 8 SPECIFIC USE POLICIES AND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ............................................................................. 109 8.1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................109 8.2 Advertising and Signs ..........................................................................................110 8.3 Agriculture ...........................................................................................................111 8.4 Aquaculture ..........................................................................................................112 8.5 Commercial Development ...................................................................................114 8.6 Industrial and Port Facilities ................................................................................117 Page ii 8.7 Marinas ................................................................................................................121 8.8 Mining ..................................................................................................................125 8.9 Parking Facilities .................................................................................................125 8.10 Recreational Facilities ..........................................................................................127 8.11 Residential Development .....................................................................................129 8.12 Scientific, Cultural and Educational Facilities .....................................................134 8.13 Transportation Facilities ......................................................................................136 8.14 Utilities (Primary) ................................................................................................138 CHAPTER 9 SPECIFIC SHORELINE MODIFICATION POLICIES AND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ............................................. 144 9.1 Introduction - Applicability .................................................................................144 9.2 General Policies and Regulations ........................................................................145 9.3 Boat Launches ......................................................................................................145 9.4 Breakwaters..........................................................................................................147