35.10.060 Shoreline Residential – Conservancy designation (SRC).
(1) Criteria. The Shoreline Residential – Conservancy designation is applied to shoreline areas landward of the ordinary high water mark in areas designated as rural lands under the County’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Zoning Map that are generally characterized by adjacent low intensity and density land uses and where ecological functions are not substantially degraded. These areas also include some limited areas of unincorporated Urban Growth Areas that are similar in character. These shorelines generally support a mixture of existing residential uses with densities generally less than one unit per acre and less than one unit per 20 acres, including some platted lands with moderate potential for future development because of zoning, lot size, and location relative to infrastructure and amenities. These shorelines are characterized as also having a preponderance of the following characteristics:
(a) Large patches of dense or contiguous riparian forest, presence of priority habitats or species, and/or extensive wetlands;
(b) Minimal shoreline modifications, including a general absence of levees, hardened stream banks, or other structural shoreline armoring;
(c) Partially encumbered by landslide, flooding, or channel migration hazards but with sufficient developable area outside of the mapped hazard zone to support rural residential uses;
(d) Less intensively developed with respect to existing shoreline setback width, shoreline hardening and/or other alteration, and/or riparian clearing compared to Shoreline Residential – Intensive shorelines;
(e) Public or private commercial forest-zoned (CF or CFM) parcels that are adjacent to, or surrounded by, noncommercial forest-zoned parcels which meet criteria (1)(a) through (1)(d) of this section; or
(f) Public lands providing moderate levels of existing shoreline access where occurring adjacent to rural lands which meet criteria (1)(a) through (1)(e) of this section.
(2) Purpose. The purpose of the Shoreline Residential – Conservancy designation is to protect marine and freshwater shorelines that have large patches of continuous forest cover and/or minimal evidence of ecological degradation, while allowing low intensity uses that do not cause a net loss of shoreline functions.
(3) Management Policies. The Shoreline Residential – Conservancy environment should be managed consistent with the following policies:
(a) Shoreline permitted, conditional and prohibited uses, developments, and modifications are to be based on Tables 2-1 and 2-2, and as further prescribed by the policies and regulations of this Program for specific shoreline uses, developments and modification activities. All shoreline uses must also be a permitted use under the Clallam County Zoning Code, CCC Title 33.
(b) New uses, developments, and shoreline modification activities are subject to the prescribed policies and regulations of this Program addressing shoreline buffer and vegetation conservation, critical area protection, clearing, grading and filling, water quality and water management, public access, and archaeological, historical and cultural resources.
(c) Uses should be limited to those which sustain the shoreline area’s physical and biological resources, including vegetation coverage.
(d) Water-oriented commercial and industrial uses may be allowed as a conditional use if the density and intensity of such use is limited as necessary to maintain the ecological functions of the shoreline and retain the rural and natural character of the shoreline reach.
(e) Water-oriented recreation facilities that do not deplete the resource over time, such as boating facilities, angling, hunting, wildlife viewing trails, and swimming beaches, are preferred uses, provided adverse impacts to the shorelines are mitigated.
(f) Mining is a unique use as a result of its inherent linkage to geology. Therefore, mining and related activities may be an appropriate use within the Shoreline Residential – Conservancy environment when conducted in a manner consistent with the policies and regulations of this Program.
(g) Intensive or high density development in these areas could lead to a loss of ecological functions and should be discouraged or prohibited.
(h) Property owners should be made aware these areas may be subject to hazards such as storm surges, flooding, landslides, erosion caused by wind and waves, and/or channel migration even where there are bulkheads, levees, or other flood/erosion protection structures in place through a targeted marketing outreach program implemented by Clallam County.
(i) Shoreline Residential – Conservancy shorelines may be suitable for trails, viewpoints, nonmotorized watercraft launches, or other types of low-impact public access and water-oriented recreational development as long as such uses are sited to avoid and minimize impacts on shoreline functions or private property rights.
(j) Construction of new structural shoreline stabilization and flood control structures should only be allowed through a conditional use permit where there is a documented need to protect an existing structure or where restoration of ecological functions is the primary purpose. New development should be designed and located to preclude the need for new structural shoreline stabilization and flood control structures.
(k) Scientific, historical, cultural, and educational uses may be allowed provided no ecological adverse impact on the area will result.
(4) Areas Designated. The general location and approximate extent of the Shoreline Residential – Conservancy environment is shown on the Shoreline Environmental Designation Maps in Exhibit A of this Program.