Chapter 22.16
SHORELINE ENVIRONMENTS

Sections:

22.16.010    Environment maps.

22.16.020    Environment designations.

22.16.030    Environment boundaries.

22.16.040    Environments – Generally.

22.16.050    The natural environment designation.

22.16.060    The conservancy environment designation.

22.16.070    The rural environment designation.

22.16.080    The semi-rural environment designation.

22.16.090    The urban environment designation.

22.16.010 Environment maps.

As part of the master program, there is one official set of Kitsap County Shoreline Environment Designation Maps which shall be in the custody of the department of community development and available for public inspection during normal business hours. Unofficial copies of the official map or portions thereof may be included or distributed with copies of the master program.

The purpose of the official environment designation map is to depict graphically those areas of Kitsap County falling under the jurisdiction of the master program, and the shoreline environment designations of those areas.

(Res. 27-1999 Exh. A, Part IV (A), 1999)

22.16.020 Environment designations.

Some water or wetland areas of the county’s shorelines may have a different environment designation than the adjacent uplands. These classifications are depicted on the official environment designation map. Where no specific environment designation has been applied to a water body or wetlands on the environment designation map, the adjoining upland environment designation shall apply to the water surface, water column and bedland of the water body. When different environment designations have been applied to opposing banks of rivers or streams, each designation shall be extended to the midpoint of that water body.

Natural systems must be protected from man-made disruption. Whenever these natural systems are known to exist in or along the shorelines of the county, appropriate environment classifications as necessary to protect them are assigned. Should an area along the shorelines not given a classification be found to be a natural system by the definition found in Chapter 22.20, it shall be incumbent upon the administrator to apply the natural systems policies as if the area had been given a classification.

(Res. 27-1999 Exh. A, Part IV (B), 1999)

22.16.030 Environment boundaries.

Where the exact location of a jurisdiction or environment designation boundary line is uncertain, the official environment designation map will be used to determine the location of such line. When resort to the environment designation map does not resolve the conflict, the following rules will apply:

1.    Boundaries indicated as approximately following the center lines of streets, highways, alleys or other roadways shall be construed to follow such center lines;

2.    Boundaries indicated as approximately following lot, fractional section or other subdivision lines shall be construed as following such subdivision lines;

3.    Boundaries indicated as approximately following any lines of corporate limits or other local government jurisdictional lines shall be construed as following such lines;

4.    Boundaries indicated as following railroad lines shall be construed as following the center line of the railroad right-of-way;

5.    Boundaries indicated as parallel to or extensions of features identified in subsections (1) through (4) above shall be so construed;

6.    When not specifically indicated on the environment designation map, distances shall be determined by the scale of the map; and

7.    Where existing physical or cultural features are at variance with those shown on the environment designation map and cannot be determined with certainty by applying subsections (1) through (6) above, the hearing examiner shall determine the location or existence of such feature utilizing any appropriate criteria contained in this master program.

(Res. 27-1999 Exh. A, Part IV (C), 1999)

22.16.040 Environments – Generally.

1.    Introduction. The master program establishes five shoreline environment designations, known as the natural, conservancy, rural, semi-rural, and urban environments and one sub-environment, conservancy-public lands. The shoreline environment designations are not a substitute for existing land use regulations, but rather must be considered in addition to those regulations.

2.    General Policies. The following policies are applicable to each of the shoreline environments:

a.    Uses which are consistent with the character of the specific shoreline environment should be encouraged; and

b.    Existing uses which are incompatible with shoreline environments shall be subject to the rules in this master program applicable to nonconforming uses, activities, or developments (See Part I, Section E).

(Res. 27-1999 Exh. A, Part IV (D(1, 2)), 1999)

22.16.050 The natural environment designation.

a.    Purpose. The purpose of the natural environment is to preserve and restore natural systems existing relatively free of human influence. To maintain the integrity of this environment, severe restrictions on the intensities and types of uses permitted in such areas are required.

b.    Designation Criteria. A natural environment is an area having a unique asset or feature considered valuable for its natural or original condition which is relatively intolerant of intensive human use. Such areas may be identified by one or more of the following:

(1)    Areas best representing undisturbed natural conditions or natural systems;

(2)    Areas providing critical habitats;

(3)    Areas playing an important part in maintaining the ecological balance of the region’s natural systems; and

(4)    Areas possessing high values for scenic and passive recreational or educational uses.

c.    Management Policies. The following policies should be applied to any permissible uses occurring in the natural environment:

(1)    Because natural environments are intolerant of human use, they should remain relatively free of human influence;

(2)    When human influence and development are permitted, the impacts should be capable of easy restoration to the original natural condition;

(3)    Any activity which would bring about a change in the existing situation should be allowed only if the change would contribute to the preservation of the existing character.

(4)    Those uses which enhance access for passive recreational use should be encouraged so long as they do not adversely impact the integrity of the natural system and environment.

(Res. 27-1999 Exh. A, Part IV (D(3)), 1999)

22.16.060 The conservancy environment designation.

a.    Conservancy Environment.

(1)    Purpose. The purpose of the conservancy environment is to protect, conserve, and manage existing natural resources and valuable historic and cultural areas in order to ensure a continuous flow of recreational benefits to the public and to achieve sustained resource utilization. Another purpose is to protect fish and wildlife habitat and environmentally sensitive areas.

(2)    Designation Criteria. A conservancy environment is an area intended to protect, conserve, and maintain its existing character. Nonconsumptive uses which can utilize resources on a sustained-yield basis while minimally reducing opportunities for future uses are preferred. Such areas may be identified by one or more of the following:

(a)    Areas that can be managed on a sustained-yield basis while minimally reducing opportunities for other future uses of the resources of the area.

(b)    Areas presenting severe biophysical limitations. Typical biophysical limitations include steep slopes, biological wetlands, areas prone to flooding, areas prone to landsliding, and areas with inadequate water supply or sewage disposal capabilities.

(c)    Areas which present potential for current or future community recreational needs and are located near existing or potential population centers.

(d)    Areas important to regional ecological balance, such as areas rich in quality and quantity of life forms, areas important to the maintenance of natural water quality and flow, or areas important to maintaining the food chain process such as estuaries, riparian corridors, and wetlands.

(3)    Management Policies. The following policies should be applied to any permissible uses occurring in the conservancy environment:

(a)    Uses of a non-permanent nature which do not substantially degrade the existing character of the areas should be encouraged.

(b)    Nonconsumptive uses should be encouraged.

(c)    Development should be limited to those proposals which demonstrate preservation of environmentally sensitive features.

b.    Conservancy-Public Lands Environment Designation.

(1)    Purpose. The specific location of the individual shoreline environments is mapped on shoreline maps and further detailed in Chapter 22.28, Use Activities. As part of those maps, a “conservancy-public lands environment” has been identified as a specific sub-environment and is defined below.

(2)    Designation Criteria. A conservancy-public lands environment is an area which is publicly owned and is dedicated for public use and enjoyment as a park, recreational site, or open space. The state, county, and local parklands within unincorporated areas of Kitsap County are to be designated conservancy-public lands environment. The sub-environment is intended to allow further development and improvement of publicly owned lands for the benefit of the public. This designation is intended to protect recreational areas and to allow development, when appropriate, of other recreational areas or facilities at existing sites.

(3)    Management Policies. The following policies should be applied to development on publicly owned lands within the conservancy-public lands sub-environment:

(a)    Parkland improvements should be dedicated for public use.

(b)    Expansion of existing park facilities is allowed when the expansion will expand recreation opportunities for the public, and do not degrade, but preserve the natural features.

(c)    Development practices and proposals should demonstrate preservation of natural features and environmentally sensitive methodologies under this designation to serve as examples for public education.

(d)    Expansion proposals should be consistent with the policies and regulations in Chapter 22.28, Use Activities.

(Res. 27-1999 Exh. A, Part IV (D(4)), 1999)

22.16.070 The rural environment designation.

a.    Purpose. The purpose of the rural environment is protect agricultural land from urban expansion, restrict intensive development along undeveloped shorelines, function as a buffer between urban areas, and maintain open spaces and opportunities for recreational uses compatible with agricultural and forestry uses.

b.    Designation Criteria. A rural environment is an area having low residential densities, limited access to utilities such as sewer and water, open space, and areas modified from their natural vegetative cover and surface drainage patterns but generally supporting low intensity development, and areas possessing valuable mineral deposits.

c.    Management Policies. The following policies should be applied to any permissible uses occurring in the rural environment:

(1)    New developments in rural environments should reflect the character of the surrounding area by limiting residential density, providing permanent open space, and providing substantial setbacks from shorelines; and

(2)    Public recreation facilities are encouraged, including water access, pedestrian trails and recreational viewing areas with minimal impact to the natural environment.

(3)    Sensitive shorelines should be protected through vegetation management, maintenance and erosion control regulations.

(4)    Developments should be compatible with uses and activities in adjacent environments.

(Res. 27-1999 Exh. A, Part IV (D(5)), 1999)

22.16.080 The semi-rural environment designation.

a.    Purpose. The purpose of the semi-rural environment is to promote the utilization of an area by multiple human uses on a scale between that of the rural and urban environments. In conjunction with these uses, however, it is intended that certain aspects of the natural environment be retained.

b.    Designation Criteria. The semi-rural environment is an area where the predominant feature is the modification of the environment by the action of man but which still possesses some rural character. The semi-rural environment is distinguished from the urban environment by having primarily moderate residential uses.

c.    Management Policies. The following policies should be applied to any permissible uses occurring in the semi-rural environment:

(1)    Modifications to the environment should harmonize, whenever possible, with pre-existing natural conditions.

(2)    Development patterns and specific uses and activities should retain significant existing natural features.

(3)    Active recreational facilities should be encouraged.

(4)    To the maximum extent possible, with respect to human utilization, development within shoreline areas should strive to maintain, preserve, or enhance natural shoreline characteristics.

(Res. 27-1999 Exh. A, Part IV (D(6)), 1999)

22.16.090 The urban environment designation.

a.    Purpose. The purpose of the urban environment is to insure optimum utilization of shorelines within urbanized areas. Such areas require management for intensive use and development to enhance and maintain a multiplicity of urban uses on the shorelines.

b.    Designation Criteria. An urban environment is an area of high intensity land use, including residential, commercial and industrial development, and describes shoreline areas presently experiencing intensive use pressures. The urban environment is an area in which urban services and infrastructure already exist or are planned in the comprehensive land use plan.

c.    Management Policies. The following policies should be applied to any permissible uses occurring in the urban environment:

(1)    Development should occur within existing development sites, whenever possible.

(2)    Public visual and physical access to the shoreline should be encouraged on urban shorelines due to their intensive use and proximity to population centers.

(3)    To the maximum extent possible, with respect to human utilization, development within shoreline areas should strive to maintain, preserve, or enhance natural shoreline characteristics.

(Res. 27-1999 Exh. A, Part IV (D(7)), 1999)