Washington Administrative Code › Title 173 - Ecology, Department of (See also Titles 197, 317, 372, and 508) › Chapter 173-26 - State master program approval/amendment procedures and master program guidelines › Part III - GUIDELINES › Section 173-26-211 - Environment designation system

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) This section applies to the establishment
				of environment designation boundaries and provisions as described in WAC
				173-26-191(1)(d).
(2)
Basic requirements for environment
				designation classification and provisions.
(a) Master programs shall contain a system to
				classify shoreline areas into specific environment designations. This
				classification system shall be based on the existing use pattern, the
				biological and physical character of the shoreline, and the goals and
				aspirations of the community as expressed through comprehensive plans as well
				as the criteria in this section. Each master program's classification system
				shall be consistent with that described in WAC
				173-26-211(4) and
				(5) unless the alternative proposed provides
				equal or better implementation of the act.
(b) An up-to-date and accurate map of the
				shoreline area delineating the environment designations and their boundaries
				shall be prepared and maintained in the local government office that
				administers shoreline permits. If it is not feasible to accurately designate
				individual parcels on a map, the master program text shall include a clear
				basis for identifying the boundaries, physical features, explicit criteria, or
				"common" boundary descriptions to accurately define and distinguish the
				environments on the ground. The master program should also make it clear that
				in the event of a mapping error, the jurisdiction will rely upon common
				boundary descriptions and the criteria contained in
				RCW
				90.58.030(2) and chapter
				173-22 WAC pertaining to determinations of shorelands, as amended, rather than
				the incorrect or outdated map.
(c)
				To facilitate consistency with land use planning, local governments planning
				under chapter 36.70A RCW are encouraged to illustrate shoreline designations on
				the comprehensive plan future land use map as described in WAC
				365-196-400(2)(d).
(d) Pursuant to
				RCW
				90.58.040, the map should clearly illustrate
				what environment designations apply to all shorelines of the state as defined
				in RCW
				90.58.030(2)(c) within the
				local government's jurisdiction in a manner consistent with WAC
				173-26-211(4) and
				(5).
(e) The map and the master program should
				note that all areas within shoreline jurisdiction that are not mapped and/or
				designated are automatically assigned a "rural conservancy" designation, or
				"urban conservancy" designation if within a municipality or urban growth area,
				or the comparable environment designation of the applicable master program
				until the shoreline can be redesignated through a master program
				amendment.
(f) The following
				diagram summarizes the components of the environment designation provisions.
Click
				  here to view image
Diagram summarizing the components of the environment
				  designation provisions.
(This is for illustration purposes only and
				  does not supplement or add to the language in the chapter
				  text.)