Post on 01-Apr-2015
Shoreline Master Program Update: Planning Commission
Benton City, WAJune 24, 2013 1
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• Introductions• Review of SMP & Planning Process• SMP Content and Environment
Designations• Shoreline Modifications and Use
Regulations• Critical Areas• Restoration Plan Table• Next steps
Agenda
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Shoreline Management Act (SMA)RCW 90.58
To prevent harm caused by uncoordinated and piecemeal development of the state’s major shorelines
Shoreline Master Program (SMP) GuidelinesWAC 173-26
SMP--Carries out provisions of SMAMust be approved by Dept. of Ecology, using policy of RCW
90.58.020 and Guidelines as approval standards/criteria
What is a SMP?
• Balance—Environmental protection—Public access—Water-oriented uses
• Preferred Uses• No Net Loss of Ecological
Function
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Key Principles of the SMP
Residential aerial photo courtesy of fortress.wa.gov
Inventory&
Analysis
SMP- Environment Designations- Goals- Policies- Regulations
Cumulative Impacts Analysis Local
Adoption
Restoration Plan
Determine Jurisdiction
Ecology Review and Adoption
Public Participation
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Steps and Status
• Lakes ≥ 20 acre• Streams (a mean annual
flow of 200 cft per second or more, or the portion downstream from the first 300 square miles of drainage area)
• Upland areas 200 feet from ordinary high water mark
• Floodways and adjacent floodplain area
• Associated wetlands 6
Shoreline Jurisdiction
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Benton City Shoreline
Yakima River Shoreline-Land within 200 feet of the ordinary high water mark (OHWM) of the waterways-Floodways-Floodplains up to 200 feet from the floodway edge
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Shoreline Jurisdiction and InventoryBenton City Shoreline Area = Approximately 200
acres along both sides of the Yakima RiverMajor Features• Public Access – access exists in some areas• Shoreline Use – Agricultural, recreation,
residential, limited commercial• Ecological Function – riparian species, aquatic
functions• Water quality – dissolved Oxygen, pH, DDE, DDT.
Elevated temperature. Stressors• Irrigation for agriculture, bridge, recreation and
transportation development
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Benton City Land Use
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SMP Content
• Goals and Policies– Shoreline Elements
• Regulations– Environment Designations– General, use-specific and modification
regulations – Critical area regulations– Applicability and Implementation (non-
conforming use, enforcement, administration)
• Economic Development • Public Access and Recreation• Circulation• Shoreline Use and modifications• Conservation • Historic, Cultural, Scientific and
Educational Resources• Flood Hazard Management• Private Property Right
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Goals and Policies
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Environment Designations
• Current SMP – adopted in 1975– Environment Designation – Natural,
Conservancy, Rural and Residential
• 2013 SMP Update– Aquatic– Agriculture Conservancy– Urban Conservancy– Shoreline Residential– High Intensity
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Benton City Shoreline Environment
• Waterward of the Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM)
• Purpose is to protect, restore, and manage the unique characteristics and resources
• Management policies guide the use and activities in this ED
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Environment Designations: Aquatic
• Applies on public and unimproved lands
• Purpose is to protect and restore ecological functions of open space, flood plain and other sensitive lands where they exist in urban and developed settings
• Management policies guide the use and activities in this ED; e.g. uses allowed that result in restoration 15
Environment Designations: Urban Conservancy
• Applies on floodway areas with Ag-Suburban land use
• Purpose is to protect and restore existing ecological functions of floodway
• Low intensity uses are allowed • Management policies guide the use and
activities in this ED; e.g. new low intensity agricultural uses
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Environment Designations: Agriculture Conservancy
• Applies on residential land use areas• Purpose is to accommodate primarily
residential development; also allows other uses, public access and recreation
• Management policies guide the use and activities in this ED; e.g. no net loss policy by limiting lot coverage, providing setback
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Environment Designations: Shoreline Residential
• Applies mostly on commercial areas outside floodway
• Purpose is to provide for to provide for higher intensity land uses such as commercial and transportation together with appropriate accessory uses
• Protecting the existing ecological functions in areas that have been previously degraded
• Management policies18
Environment Designations: High Intensity
General Standards
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• No Net loss of ecological functions• Water-dependent uses shall be
preferred as a first priority and water-related and water-enjoyment as a second priority
• Single-family residential is a preferred use
• Public access of shoreline
• Agriculture• Boating Facilities• Commercial
Development• Fill and Excavation• Groins and Weirs• In-Stream Structures
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Shoreline Modifications and Use Regulations
• Recreational Development
• Residential Development
• Shoreline Habitat and Natural Systems Enhancement Projects
• Shoreline Stabilization• Transportation• Utilities
Agriculture
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• Existing and future Ag uses per Comprehensive Plan shall be allowed
• SMP provision applies to:o New Ag uses or Ag expansion on non-Ag landso Conversion of Ag lands to other uses o Other developments that are not Ag activitieso Ag activities that are not exempted by this Program
• New uses shall assure no net loss of ecological functions
• Fertilizers and pesticides shall prevent direct runoff into waterbodies, wetlands or aquifer recharge areas
• State and Federal policies shall apply
Boating Facilities
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• Existing boat launches are to continue• New boating facilities – only non-motorized
boating facilities (such as paddle boats or electric boats) are allowed.
• Accessory uses shall be:o Limited to water-oriented uses that provide
physical or visual shoreline accesso Located as far landwards as possible
• Environmental protection
Commercial Development
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• Standards for water-oriented priority• Criteria are provided for when non-water-
oriented uses are allowed; these are mostly applicable for Benton City
• Application review criteria• Compatibility with surroundings. City can
modify project standards to achieve this • Public Access
Fill and Excavation
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• Fill shall be of the minimum amount and extent necessary to accomplish the purpose of the fill
• Fill waterward of the OHWM• Fill upland • Need to demonstrate fill shall be minimum
necessary• Fills or excavation shall not be located where
shore stabilization will be necessary to protect materials placed or removed
Recreational Development
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• General preference standards: • Recreational uses shall include features for
access, enjoyment and use of shoreline• Allow passive and active recreational
development• Water-oriented recreational uses and activities
are preferred;
• Performance Standards for mitigation, protection of fragile and unique shoreline, location, design
• Non-motorized access is preferred. Motorized access shall protect functions
Residential Development
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• Single-family residential development is a preferred use
• Accessory uses and structures shall be outside of the riparian buffer, unless the structure is or supports a water-dependent use
• New shoreline residences shall ensure that shoreline stabilization and flood control structures are not necessary to protect proposed residences
• Density according to the Comprehensive Plan
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Critical Areas
• Wetlands• Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas• Frequently Flooded Areas• Geologic Hazards• Fish and Wildlife Habitat
Conservation Areas
• 2010 Legislature – Critical areas within shorelines regulated by SMA/SMPs
• Integrate City CAO into SMP with updates:
–Delete “reasonable use exception” and use “no net loss” standard
–Wetland buffers and mitigation ratios
– Fish and wildlife habitat areas updated for vegetation mgt and riparian buffers
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Critical Areas Overview
• Use latest Ecology and USACE info for Eastern WA “most current, accurate and complete scientific and technical information available” (WAC)
• Buffers based on wetland functions and land use intensity
• Mitigation ratios revised per 2006 USACE document (slight adjustments)
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Wetlands
Wetland Category Current CAO (Minimums) Recommended Update(Maximum to Minimum)
I 75’ to 190’ 250’ – 50’
II 75’ to 150’ 200’ – 50’
III 60’ to 120’ 150’ – 40’
IV 40’ 50’ – 25’
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Wetland Buffers
• Varies based on:– Land use intensity– Wetland habitat and water quality
functions
• Reach based approach• Consider existing conditions and
riparian functions• Aquatic and terrestrial habitat• Shade and cover• Erosion control• Water quality treatment/protection• Organic material/wood inputs
• Consider land ownership/future uses
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Riparian Buffers/Vegetation Mgt.
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Semi-arid Draft Riparian Buffer Literature Review Findings
Function Range (from OHWM landward)
Notes
Riparian vegetation/habitat
10’ - 100’ Varies based on changes in elevation and land use
Shade and cover See riparian vegetation
Organic material/wood inputs
1 SPTH (15’-100’) SPTH = specific tree/shrub height
Erosion control 40’ – 50’ Varies based on slope, vegetation and 7 – 15”/year precipitation
Water quality treatment/protection
50’ - 66’ Higher potential pollutant loading with irrigation (fertilizers, pesticides/herbicides)
Yakima River• Urban Conservancy – 75 feet• Agriculture Conservancy – 75 feet• Shoreline Residential – 75 feet• High Intensity – 75 feet(measured from OWHM)(Stormwater measures applied consistent with E WA Stormwater manual)
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Riparian Buffers – Preliminary Draft
• Buffers extended to include: –Adjacent regulated
wetland(s)/buffers–Landslide hazard areas and/or
erosion hazard areas/buffers• Buffers won’t extend across roads or
other lawfully established structures or hardened surfaces that functionally disconnect ecological processes
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Riparian Buffers/Vegetation Mgt.
• Important for no net loss and improvement• Protection of riparian buffer and habitat• Protection and enhancement of riparian
vegetation • Implement storm-water control consistent
with Eastern Washington manual• Implement soil erosion BMPs• Address Yakima River water quality
conditions (through stormwater mgt)
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Restoration Plan
Restoration Actions/ Opportunities – see table
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Next Steps
• Update SMP and other drafts based on additional comments
• Council Workshop – July 8th• Council review for submittal to
Ecology – mid July• Submit draft to Ecology end of July• Adopt SMP – by Summer/Fall 2013
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Stephanie Haug, CMCCity Clerk-TreasurerCity of Benton City
Ben Floyd Ferdouse Oneza, AICP
Anchor QEA509-392-4548bfloyd@anchorqea.co
m
Oneza & Associates509 845 2453foneza@onezaassociate
s.com
Contact