35.15.490 Regulations – Design and operation.
(1) Transportation development may be permitted in certain environment designations through a substantial development permit or conditional use permit as indicated in Table 2-2 when otherwise consistent with this Program.
(2) Transportation facilities, including trails, shall comply with the applicable provisions of Chapters: 35.30 CCC, Shoreline Buffers and Vegetation Conservation; 35.35 CCC, Critical Areas within Shoreline Jurisdiction; 35.40 CCC, Mitigation and No Net Loss; and with the applicable articles: Article II of Chapter 35.25 CCC, Clearing, Grading and Filling; Article III of Chapter 35.25 CCC, Public Access; Article IV of Chapter 35.25 CCC, Water Quality and Water Management; and Article V of Chapter 35.25 CCC, Archaeological, Historical and Cultural Resources.
(3) Transportation facilities shall be designed to generally follow natural topography, to minimize cuts and/or fills, to avoid adverse impacts to shoreline ecological functions and processes.
(4) Transportation facilities shall be required to make joint use of rights-of-way and to consolidate crossings of water bodies to avoid adverse impact to the shoreline.
(5) Public transportation facilities may be permitted to cross wetlands, streams and/or their buffers when no feasible alternative alignment is available and the facility is designed and constructed to minimize physical, hydrologic and ecological impacts to the wetland or stream. Alternative access shall be pursued to the maximum extent feasible, including through the provisions of Chapter 8.24 RCW. Exceptions or deviations from technical standards for width or other dimensions, and specific construction standards to minimize impacts, may be specified, including placement on elevated structures as an alternative to fill, if feasible. Proponents of such wetland or stream crossings must demonstrate that all of the following criteria are met:
(a) There is no other feasible alternative route with less impact on shorelines or critical areas.
(b) The crossing minimizes interruption of natural processes such as channel migration, the downstream movement of wood and gravel, and the movement of all fish and wildlife. Bridges are preferred for all stream crossings and should be designed to maintain the existing stream substrate and gradient, provide adequate horizontal clearance on each side of the ordinary high water mark, and provide adequate vertical clearance above the ordinary high water mark.
(c) Culverts, if needed, shall be designed according to applicable State and federal guidance criteria for fish passage as identified in Fish Passage Design at Road Culverts, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 2013, and/or the National Marine Fisheries Service Guidelines for Salmonid Passage at Stream Crossings, 2000 (and subsequent revisions) and in accordance with a State Hydraulic Project Approval. The Administrator may require that existing culverts be replaced or modified as a condition of approval if the culvert is detrimental to fish passage or water quality, and a feasible alternative exists.
(d) Crossings shall be limited to the minimum width necessary.
(6) Private road access to private development sites may be permitted to cross wetlands, streams and/or their buffers if there are no feasible alternative alignments. Alternative access shall be pursued to the maximum extent feasible, including through the provisions of Chapter 8.24 RCW. Exceptions or deviations from technical standards for width or other dimensions, and specific construction standards to minimize impacts, may be specified, including placement on elevated structures as an alternative to fill, if feasible. Proponents of such wetland or stream crossings must demonstrate that all of the following criteria are met:
(a) There is no other feasible alternative route with less impact on shorelines or critical areas.
(b) The crossing minimizes interruption of natural processes such as channel migration, the downstream movement of wood and gravel, and the movement of all fish and wildlife. Bridges are preferred for all stream crossings and should be designed to maintain the existing stream substrate and gradient, provide adequate horizontal clearance on each side of the ordinary high water mark, and provide adequate vertical clearance above the ordinary high water mark.
(c) Culverts, if needed, shall be designed according to applicable State and federal guidance criteria for fish passage as identified in Fish Passage Design at Road Culverts, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 2013, and/or the National Marine Fisheries Service Guidelines for Salmonid Passage at Stream Crossings, 2000 (and subsequent revisions) and in accordance with a State Hydraulic Project Approval. The Administrator may require that existing culverts be replaced or modified as a condition of approval if the culvert is detrimental to fish passage or water quality, and a feasible alternative exists.
(d) Crossings shall be limited to the minimum width necessary. Common crossings are the preferred approach where multiple properties can be accessed by one crossing.
(7) In instances where water crossing is required, the shortest, most direct route shall be used unless such route would cause more damage to the environment. Bridges shall be required when crossing streams that support salmonids unless the proponent demonstrates there are other feasible alternatives that do not cause adverse impacts to fish habitat including fish passage.
(8) Bridge supports and abutments shall be designed and spaced so they do not act as walls baffling or blocking flood waters, or interrupting stream channel processes or littoral drift.
(9) Arterial roads and railroads shall be built outside the floodway except for necessary stream crossings. If built in the floodway fringe, such routes should be aligned generally parallel to outside stream bends so they will also act as setback levees.
(10) Transportation facilities shall be designed so that no significant loss of flood capacity nor measurable increase in predictable flood levels will result. Such facilities shall avoid placing structures within the channel migration zone or any dynamic, shifting channel area unless demonstrated no feasible location outside of these areas exists and compliance with Chapter 35.40 CCC, Mitigation and No Net Loss.
(11) Expansion or new construction of any private or public road within shoreline jurisdiction shall only be permitted when adverse impacts to shoreline functions and processes have been avoided and when unavoidable impacts have been minimized and/or offset through compensatory mitigation in accordance with CCC 35.40.030.
(12) Road and street repair projects shall be designed to be the minimum necessary to provide safe roads and streets.
(13) Transportation facilities shall be constructed of materials that will not adversely impact water quality or aquatic plants and animals over the long term. Elements within or over water shall be constructed of materials approved by applicable State agencies for use in water for both submerged portions and other components to avoid discharge of pollutants from splash, rain or runoff. Wood or pilings treated with creosote, pentachlorophenol or other similarly toxic materials are prohibited. Preferred materials are concrete and steel.
(14) Transportation development shall be carried out in a manner that maintains or improves State water quality standards for affected waters.
(15) Low impact development techniques shall be used to manage stormwater runoff from roads where feasible and where soil and geologic conditions are appropriate and conducive to such techniques.
(16) Nonemergency construction and repair work shall be scheduled for that time of year when seasonal conditions (weather, stream flow) permit optimum feasible protection of shoreline ecological functions and processes.
(17) Roads and railroads shall be located to minimize the need for routing surface waters into and through culverts.
(18) Extensions and connections to the Olympic Discovery Trail shall be a preferred transportation, public access and recreational use within the shoreline jurisdiction consistent with the policies and regulations of this Program.