The Clallam County SMP includes goals, policies, and regulations for shoreline management. The goals, policies, and regulations provide direction to County planning staff and to shoreline users and developers on how to implement the State Shoreline Management Act (Chapter 90.58 RCW) and its implementing rules in Chapter 173-26 WAC at the local level. The SMP is intended to protect shoreline resources while allowing appropriate use and development of shoreline areas. The SMP is organized as separate chapters, which collectively will become Title 35 of the Clallam County Code (replacing the existing Title 35). Here is what each chapter of the SMP contains:

Chapter 35.05 CCC (this chapter) contains a preamble and describes general goals of the SMP, which are largely based on the principles of the Shoreline Management Act and the feedback collected during the community visioning process. This chapter explains the types of shoreline use and development activities over which the Program has jurisdiction and the Program’s relationship to other land use plans, programs, and regulations.

Chapter 35.10 CCC describes the shoreline environment designations that apply to each segment (or reach) of the shoreline. The designations reflect the ecological conditions, existing land use patterns, zoning, the types of health and safety hazards that are present (flooding or landslides, for example), geology, and other characteristics. The environment designations provide a framework for tailoring shoreline policies and regulations to different shoreline segments based on their characteristics. There are five different upland environment designations in Clallam County that apply to the shorelands, plus one additional designation that applies to the aquatic area (below the ordinary high water mark). Chapter 35.10 CCC contains tables that describe the uses allowed within the various environment designations.

Policies and regulations that apply to specific shoreline uses and developments, including residential development, are listed in Chapter 35.15 CCC. The policies and regulations that apply to each shoreline development may vary depending on the shoreline environment designation assigned to that parcel. A single development proposal may involve multiple uses and therefore may be subject to more than one set of policies and regulations. An example is a residential use that also involves construction of a private dock.

Policies are aspirational statements that are meant to be general or broad in scope. Policies are typically phrased using the word “should.” Regulations flow from the policies and define the conditions under which shoreline development or use is allowed or not allowed. Policies give context to the regulations and aid in their interpretation. Here is an example:

Policy: The County should take active measures to preserve unarmored shorelines and prevent the future proliferation of bulkheads and other forms of structural shoreline stabilization.

Regulation: Use of a bulkhead, revetment or similar shoreline armoring to protect a platted lot where no primary use or structure presently exists shall be prohibited.

Chapter 35.20 CCC contains policies and regulations for specific types of shoreline modification such as shoreline stabilization and dredging. These modifications can have significant effects on the shoreline environment and require very specific policies and regulations.

Chapter 35.25 CCC contains general policies and regulations that apply to all types of use and development within shoreline jurisdiction, including policies and regulations for “grandfathered” uses and development. Chapter 35.30 CCC contains the shoreline buffer and vegetation conservation standards to which all developments must adhere. Chapter 35.35 CCC has specific protections for critical areas located within shoreline jurisdiction. The shoreline-specific critical areas regulations are similar to the existing critical areas regulations in Chapter 27.12 CCC, but contain many revisions that reflect the most current, accurate, complete, available and applicable science and ensure consistency with the Shoreline Management Act. Chapter 35.40 CCC describes the standards that shoreline uses and developments must meet to achieve the no net loss requirements of the Shoreline Management Act.

Shorelines designated as shorelines of statewide significance (SSWS) by the Shoreline Management Act (Chapter 90.58 RCW) are listed in Chapter 35.45 CCC, along with policies for their use. Shorelines of statewide significance are major resources from which all people of the State derive benefit. These areas must be managed to ensure optimum implementation of the Act’s objectives.

Chapter 35.50 CCC addresses the administration of the Program. This chapter contains procedures and review criteria for substantial development permits, conditional use permits, and shoreline variances.

Chapter 35.55 CCC provides definitions for important terms used throughout the document.