18S.30.060 Scenic Protection and Compatibility.
The purpose of the Scenic Protection and Compatibility policies and regulations is to preserve shoreline scenic vistas and to ensure development on shorelines is compatible with the surrounding environment, existing, and planned development.
A. Applicability. The policies and regulations of this Section shall apply to all uses and development, within all shoreline environment designations. For private property view enhancement by way of tree trimming see PCC 18S.30.030 G.3.
B. Policies.
1. Encourage sustainable residential development through restrictions on the scale of development, preservation of vegetation and topography, and preservation of views.
2. Locate new residential structures with respect to views and with a height limit of 35 feet.
3. Design development, except linear public utilities, to fit the natural topography and vegetation to preserve the natural landscape. Design linear public utilities to preserve the natural landscape.
4. Maintain, enhance, and/or restore shoreline features including vegetation.
5. Avoid or minimize negative impacts of commercial development proposals to areas of scenic or cultural importance.
6. Address scenic protection and aesthetic impacts, including views, through measures such as placement of utilities underground, minimizing topographic alterations for above ground uses, increased setbacks, landscaping, low impact development (LID) techniques, screening, color selection, etc.
7. Locate new transportation routes to avoid parks, scenic views, historical, archaeological, and cultural resources, unless no feasible alternative exists.
8. Design shoreline stabilization activities and structures to accomplish the stabilization with maximum preservation of the aesthetics and natural characteristics of the shoreline.
9. Locate in- and over-water structures so as to minimize visual impacts to adjacent properties and uses and other in- and over-water uses.
10. Consider aesthetics in placement and design of over-water structures and encourage multiple uses of over-water facilities.
11. Consider impacts to view and scenic resources enjoyed by abutting uses.
C. Regulations – General.
1. Utility facilities should be located outside shorelines. Whenever utility facilities must be placed in a shoreline area, the location and design should be chosen so as not to obstruct or destroy scenic views. Transmission facilities paralleling the water's edge should be placed underground.
2. The County may require a visual impact analysis of views from various locations to determine if the shoreline view for adjacent properties will be significantly obstructed as part of a development proposal.
3. Parking lots, including circulation driveways, shall be located as far inland as practicable with pedestrian access provided by walkways or other methods.
4. Compatibility with, and impacts to, the following shall be considered: navigation, recreation, public access, public use of the beaches and surface waters, traffic, abutting uses, and views.
5. The ability of watercraft to navigate past the site should not be blocked unless inherently impossible for the use proposed, such as a dam.
6. Appropriate measures shall be employed to protect public safety and prevent adverse impacts on navigation, public access, recreation, and other approved shoreline development.
7. Over-water facilities should accommodate multiple uses whenever feasible.
D. Regulations – Height Limits. Structure height is measured from the average pre-developed grade level to the highest point of a structure; provided, that television antennas, chimneys, and similar appurtenances shall not be used in calculating height, except where such appurtenances obstruct the view of the shoreline of a substantial number of residences on areas adjoining such shorelines; provided further, that temporary construction equipment is excluded from this calculation.
1. Residential structures shall not exceed a height of 35 feet.
2. Non-residential structures should be limited to 35 feet, but may exceed a height of 35 feet if the following standards are met:
a. The increased height provides greater protection to ecological functions;
b. A visual impact analysis demonstrates that the increased height does not obscure the view of the water body on another property by more than 33 percent of the predevelopment view from that property; and
c. Overriding consideration of the public interest will be served.