Laserfiche WebLink
City of Tukwila My WebLink |HelpSearch Tips |About |Sign Out
INFORMATIONAL MEMO <br />Page 3 <br /> <br /> <br />Z:\Council Agenda Items\DCD\Shoreline Update\SMP Council Info Memo 6-11-19.docx <br />Consistency with State Regulations <br />As documented in the Gap Analysis report there are areas where the City’s regulations do not <br />reflect recent changes to State law. These include updates to definitions, new shoreline <br />exemptions, and updated references to RCW and WAC sections. These changes are mandatory <br />for consistency across jurisdictions. The proposal also includes language for revisions and time <br />extensions for issued shoreline permits in accordance with State requirements. <br /> <br />Streamlining/Eliminating Duplication <br />The current SMP includes policies and regulations that were subsequently also adopted into the <br />Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code. This duplication has given rise to inconsistencies and <br />requires duplicate amendments whenever changes are made. The proposal is to create a multi- <br />part SMP that spans these documents and includes the Shoreline Element and Chapter 18.44 by <br />reference without repeating policy or regulation language. <br /> <br />The current Chapter 18.44 Shoreline Overlay duplicates the environmental regulations found in <br />Chapter 18.45 Sensitive Area Ordinance for sensitive areas within the shoreline jurisdiction. <br />After discussion with our DOE reviewer the proposal is to eliminate this duplication, reference <br />the regulations in 18.45 that are currently being updated, and add additional language about <br />applicability and limitations of that chapter. This does mean that adoption of the environmental <br />regulation update will need to occur concurrently with the adoption of the shoreline update. <br /> <br />Another proposal is to combine the shoreline use matrix and narrative list of uses into a single <br />table for clarity. Similarly, the narrative discussion of shoreline buffers has been put into a <br />table. Tree protection standards and penalties for tree unauthorized removal are proposed to <br />be updated to match the standards required outside of the shoreline under the new Tree <br />Ordinance. During review of the Critical Areas update the PC recommended some additional <br />consistency edits to how trees and vegetation are regulated under shoreline, critical areas, <br />landscape and tree chapters. Staff is proposing some additional edits to the PC recommended <br />SMP in section 18.44.060 to address that issue. <br /> <br />Renumbering <br />Some of the code sections in TMC 18.44 are quite long and therefore code citations can be 4 or <br />5 layers deep. This can be confusing and hard to use. Staff proposes to break up some of these <br />long sections and renumber in the final ordinance format after the policy work is completed on <br />the strikeout/underline version. <br /> <br />Additional Flexibility for Levee Profile <br />The current SMP contains a minimum levee profile with a mid-slope bench that is required <br />throughout the City. In practice this has not always been the chosen solution for a given <br />location and has required a shoreline variance even for designs with better environmental <br />performance. The proposal is to retain the minimum levee profile as an example but allow <br />flexibility to address site conditions and environmental opportunities without the variance <br />process as long as criteria such as an overall 2.5:1 river bank slope (red line below) and native <br />plantings are met.