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