As used in this chapter, unless context requires otherwise, the following definitions will apply for purposes of this chapter:
"Act"
means Chapter 90.58 RCW, the Shoreline Management Act of 1971, as amended.
"Adoption by rule"
means an official action by the department to make a local government shoreline master program effective through rule consistent with the requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act, Chapter 34.05 RCW, thereby incorporating the adopted shoreline master program or amendment into the State Master Program.
"Average grade level"
means the average of the natural or existing topography of the portion of the lot, parcel, or tract of real property which will be directly under the proposed building or structure. Calculation of the average grade level shall be made by averaging the ground elevations at the midpoint of all exterior walls of the proposed structure.
"Boathouse"
means a structure designed for storage of vessels located over water or in upland areas.
"Development"
means a use consisting of the construction or exterior alteration of structures; dredging; drilling; dumping; filling; removal of any sand, gravel, or minerals; bulkheading; driving of piling; placing of obstructions; or any project of a permanent or temporary nature which interferes with the normal public use of the surface of the waters overlying lands subject to the Act at any state of water level.
"Development regulations"
means the controls placed on development or land use activities by a county or city, such as zoning ordinances, critical areas ordinances, all portions of a Shoreline Master Program other than goals and policies approved or adopted under Chapter 90.58 RCW, official controls, planned unit development ordinances, subdivision ordinances, and binding site plan ordinances, together with any amendments thereto.
"Exempt"
developments are those set forth in WAC 173-27-070 and RCW 90.58.030(3)(e), 90.58.140(9), 90.58.147, 90.58.355 and 90.58.515 which are not required to obtain a substantial development permit but which must otherwise comply with applicable provisions of the Shoreline Management Act and the Westport shoreline master program.
"Extreme low tide"
means the lowest line on the land reached by a receding tide.
"Fair market value"
of a development means the open market bid price for conducting the work, using the equipment and facilities, and purchase of the goods, services and materials necessary to accomplish the development.
"Floating home"
is a structure designed and operated substantially as a permanently based over-water residence. Floating homes are not vessels and lack adequate self-propulsion and steering equipment to operate as a vessel. They are typically served by permanent utilities and semi-permanent anchorage/moorage facilities.
"Floodplain"
is synonymous with 100-year floodplain and means that land area susceptible to being inundated by stream derived water with a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. The limit of this area shall be based upon flood ordinance regulation maps or a reasonable method which meets the objectives of the Shoreline Management Act.
"Floodway"
means those portions of a river valley lying streamward from the outer limits of a watercourse upon which flood waters are carried during periods of flooding that occur with reasonable regularity, although not necessarily annually, said floodway being identified, under normal condition, by changes in surface soil conditions or changes in types or quality of vegetative ground cover condition. The floodway shall not include those lands that can reasonably be expected to be protected from flood waters by flood control devices maintained by or maintained under license from the federal government, the state, or a political subdivision of the state.
"Guidelines"
means those standards adopted by the department to implement the policy of the Shorelines Management Act.
"Height"
is measured from average grade level to the highest point of a structure, excluding antennas, chimneys and similar appurtenances.
"Houseboat"
is a vessel, principally used as an over-water residence. Houseboats are licensed and designed for use as a mobile structure with detachable utilities or facilities, anchoring and the presence of adequate self-propulsion and steering equipment to operate as a vessel. Principal use as an over-water residence means occupancy in a single location, for a period exceeding two months in any one calendar year. This definition includes live-aboard vessels.
"Local government"
means city of Westport.
"Ordinary high water mark"
is a mark that will be found by examining the bend and banks and ascertaining whether the presence and action of waters are so common and usual, and so long continued in all ordinary years, as to mark upon the soil a character distinct from that of the abutting upland.
(1)
In high-energy tidal water environments where the action of the waves or currents is sufficient to prevent vegetation establishment below mean higher high tide, the ordinary high water mark is coincident with the line of vegetation. Where there is no vegetative cover for less than 100 feet parallel to the shoreline, the ordinary high water mark is the average tidal elevation of the adjacent lines of vegetation. Where the ordinary high water mark cannot be found, it is the elevation of mean higher high tide.
(2)
In low-energy tidal water environments where the action of waves and currents is not sufficient to prevent vegetation establishment below mean higher high tide, the ordinary high water mark is coincident with the landward limit of salt tolerant vegetation, which means the vegetation is tolerant of interstitial soil salinites greater than or equal to 0.5 parts per thousand.
"Permit"
means any substantial development, variance, conditional use permit or revision authorized under Chapter 90.58 RCW.
"Person"
means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, organization, cooperative, public or municipal corporation or agency of the state or local governmental unit however designated.
"Primary dune"
means the first system of dunes shoreward of the water, having little or no vegetation, which are intolerant of unnatural disturbances. The primary dune is the equivalent of the foreshore dune as identified by the Soil Conservation Service and in Westport is covered by the dune protection zone which extends up to 100 feet shoreward of the primary or foreshore dune.
"Priority"
for shoreland developments where authorized, is defined at RCW 90.58.020 and shall include uses which permit a significant number of people to use or enjoy the city's shorelines, including water-dependent uses, public use and access, and residential uses consistent with environmental protection.
"Shorelands" or "Shoreland areas"
means those lands extending landward for 200 feet in all directions as measured on a horizontal plane from the ordinary high water mark; floodways and contiguous floodplain areas landward 200 feet from such floodways; and all wetlands and river deltas associated with the streams, lakes, and tidal waters which are subject to the provisions of the SMA.
The following shall be interpreted as the upland extent of shoreline jurisdiction within the city:
(1)
The Westhaven Area.
The upland extent of shoreline jurisdiction shall be the ordinary high watermark plus 200 feet and associated wetlands line of ordinary high water plus 200 feet for the city core, Westhaven area (see areas "A" to "A" as identified on the Westport comprehensive land use, shoreline and zoning map);
(2)
The ocean beach area bounded on the north by Ocean Avenue extended and on the south by the city limits. The upland extent of shoreline jurisdiction shall be a line drawn at the upland toe of the primary dune together with associated interdunal wetlands, easterly edge of the beach deflation plain to the OBR I area (see areas "B" to "B" as identified on the Westport comprehensive land use, shoreline and zoning map);
(3)
The ocean beach area bounded on the north by the south boundary of Westhaven State Park and on the south by Ocean Avenue extended. The upland extent of shoreline jurisdiction shall be the 100-year floodplain or a line drawn at the upland toe of the primary dune together with associated interdunal wetlands, whichever location that is further upland, for the property designated TC (see areas "C" to "C" as identified on the Westport comprehensive land use, shoreline, and zoning map);
(4)
The East Shore of Westport.
The upland extent of shoreline jurisdiction shall be the ordinary high water mark plus 200 feet and associated wetlands. USCOE designated wetland edge from Firecracker Point east and south to the city limits (see areas "D" to "D" as identified on the Westport comprehensive land use, shoreline and zoning map).
"Shoreline master program"
for the city means the Comprehensive Plan Chapter 9 together with maps, diagrams, charts, or other descriptive material and text, a statement of desired goals, and development standards identified in WMC Title 17, particularly this chapter.
"Shorelines"
means all the water areas of the state, including reservoirs, and their associated shorelands, together with the lands underlying them, except (1) shorelines of state-wide significance, (2) shorelines on streams where the mean annual flow is 20 cubic feet per second or less, and (3) shorelines on lakes less than 20 acres in size.
"Shorelines of the state"
are the total of all "shorelines" and "shorelines of state-wide significance" within the state.
"Shorelines of state-wide significance"
relevant to the Westport area include the area between the ordinary high water mark and the western boundary of the state from Cape Disappointment on the south to Cape Flattery on the north, including harbors, bays, estuaries and inlets and the shorelands associated therewith.
"Structure"
means a permanent or temporary edifice or building, or any piece of work artificially built or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner, whether installed on, above or below the surface of the ground or water, except for vessels.
"Substantial development"
shall mean any development of which the total cost or fair market value exceeds $2,500, or any development which materially interferes with the normal public use of the water or shorelines of the state; except that the following shall not be considered substantial developments for the purpose of this chapter (as further explained under WAC 173-27-040):
(1)
Normal maintenance or repair of existing structures or developments, including damage by accident, fire or elements;
(2)
Construction of the normal protective bulkhead common to single-family residences;
(3)
Emergency construction necessary to protect property from damage by the elements;
(4)
Construction of a barn or similar agricultural structure and practices normal or necessary for farming on shorelands;
(5)
Construction or modification of navigational aids such as channel markers and anchor buoys;
(6)
Construction on shorelands by an owner, lessee, or contract purchaser of a single-family residence and appurtenance for his own use or for the use of his family, which residence does not exceed a height permitted in the underlying zone and which meets all requirements of the state agency or local government having jurisdiction thereof, other than requirements imposed pursuant to this chapter;
(7)
Construction of a dock, including a community dock, designed for pleasure craft only, for the private noncommercial use of the owner, lessee, or contract purchaser of a single-family residence, the cost of which does not exceed $2,500, if in salt water, or not to exceed $10,000 if in fresh water. A dock is a landing an moorage facility for watercraft and does not include storage facilities, decks, or other appurtenances. Any subsequent construction exceeding $2,500 and occurring within five years of completion of the prior construction shall be considered a substantial development;
(8)
Operation, maintenance, or construction of canals, waterways, drains, reservoirs developed as part of an irrigation system for the primary purpose of using system waters, including the return flow and artificially stored ground water from the irrigation of lands;
(9)
The marking of property lines or corners on state-owned lands, when such marking does not significantly interfere with normal public use of the surface of the water;
(10)
Operation and maintenance of dikes, ditches, drains, or other facilities existing on June 4, 1975, which are part of an agricultural drainage or diking system;
(11)
Any project with a certification from the Governor pursuant to Chapter 80.50 RCW;
(12)
Site exploration activities, as defined in RCW 90.58.030(3)(e)(xi), needed to prepare for a development application as long as said exploration activities do not interfere with normal public use of surface waters of the state, have no significant adverse impacts to the environment, the site is restored to pre-existing conditions, private entities post a performance bond, and the exploration activity is not subject to the permit requirements of RCW 90.58.550;
(13)
Removing or controlling aquatic noxious weeds, as defined in RCW 17.26.020, through the use of an herbicide or other treatment method, as recommended by Department of Agriculture or Department of Ecology, per Chapter 43.21C RCW;
(14)
Watershed restoration projects as reviewed and approved by the administrator; and
(15)
Any other exemption as described or further explained in WAC 173-27-040.
Use, Conditional.
"Conditional use" means a use, development, or substantial development which is classified as a conditional use or is not classified within the applicable master program. Conditional uses generally conform to the policies and management objectives of an environment, but because of potential problems inherent with the specific use or activity may not be appropriate in every situation. Conditional uses are allowable only if sufficient care is taken to avoid predictable negative impacts through the application of project/site-specific conditions. These conditions may include limitations on the scope and scale of the proposed use. A conditional use may be found to be not permissible after a specific case review.
Use, Permitted.
"Permitted use" means a use that conforms to the Westport shoreline management program, and may be undertaken subject to the policies and requirements of this chapter and applicable permits.
"Variance"
means a means to grant relief from the specific bulk, dimensional or performance standards set forth in Westport's shoreline management program.
"Water-dependent use"
means a use or portion of a use which cannot exist in any other location and is dependent on the water by reason of the intrinsic nature of its operations. Examples of water-dependent uses may include ship cargo terminal loading areas, ferry and passenger terminals, barge loading facilities, ship building and dry docking, marinas, aquaculture, float plane facilities and sewer outfalls.
"Water-enjoyment use"
is a recreational use, or other use facilitating public access to the shoreline as a primary characteristic of the use; or a use that provides for recreational use or aesthetic enjoyment of the shoreline for a substantial number of people as a general characteristic of the use and which through the location, design, and operation assures the public's ability to enjoy the physical and aesthetic qualities of the shoreline. In order to qualify as a water-enjoyment use, the use must be open to the general public and the shoreline-oriented space within the project must be devoted to the specific aspects of the use that fosters shoreline enjoyment. Primary water-enjoyment uses may include parks, piers and other improvements facilitating public access to shorelines of the state; and general water-enjoyment uses may include single-family residential, restaurants, museums, aquariums, scientific/ecological reserves, resorts, and mixed-use commercial; provided, that such uses conform to the above water-enjoyment specifications and the provisions of the shoreline master program.
"Water-oriented use"
is any combination of water-dependent, water-related, and/or water-enjoyment uses. Water-oriented uses, together with single-family residential uses, and serves as an all-encompassing definition for priority uses under the Shoreline Management Act. Residential uses and particularly single-family residential uses are priority uses under the Shoreline Management Act and are considered water-oriented uses in the city. Nonwater-oriented, except single-family residential uses, serves to describe those uses which have little or no relationship to the shoreline and are not considered priority uses under the Act. Examples include professional offices, automobile sales or repair shops, mini-storage facilities, multifamily residential development, department stores, and gas stations.
"Water-related use"
is a use or portion of a use which is not intrinsically dependent on a waterfront location but whose economic viability is dependent upon a waterfront location because: (A) of a functional requirement for a waterfront location such as the arrival or shipment of materials by water, or the need for large quantities of water; or (B) the use provides a necessary service supportive of the water-dependent commercial activities and the proximity of the use to its customers makes its services less expensive and/or more convenient. Examples include manufacturers of ship parts large enough that transportation becomes a significant factor in the product's cost, water-transported foods. Examples of water-related uses may include warehousing of goods transported by water, seafood processing plants, hydroelectric generating plants, gravel storage when transported by barge, oil refineries where transport is by tanker, and log storage. Westport considers multifamily and mixed use residential developments to be water-related in that much of Westport's attraction is as a seashore and water sports-oriented destination resort community. As such, residential structures for sale, long-term lease, and other term occupancy all facilitate the water-related nature of the Westport economy.
"Wetlands"
means areas that are inundated or saturated by surface water or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas. Wetlands do not include those artificial wetlands intentionally created from nonwetland sites, including irrigation and drainage ditches, grass-lined swales, canals, detention facilities, wastewater treatment facilities, farm ponds, and landscape amenities, or those wetlands created after July 1, 1990, that were unintentionally created as a result of the construction of road, street, or highway. Wetlands may include those artificial wetlands intentionally created from nonwetland areas to mitigate the conversion of wetlands.
Wetlands, Associated.
"Associated wetlands" means those wetlands which are in proximity to and either influence or are influenced by tidal waters or a lake or stream subject to the Shoreline Management Act.
(Ord. 1146 § 2, 1998; Ord. 1189 Att. A § 2, 1999)