Chapter 18.12
MASTER PROGRAM POLICY GOALS
Sections:
18.12.020 Master program policy goals.
18.12.010 Adoption.
The following policy goals are adopted to provide an overall, comprehensive foundation and sense of direction upon which the regulations, shoreline area designations, and administrative procedures are based. (Ord. 1786 § 1, 2013).
18.12.020 Master program policy goals.
A. Economic Development Element.
1. Land and shoreline use patterns shall provide for the location of existing and future transportation facilities, utilities, and recreation activities that are dependent on access to the water.
2. Because of the unique floodway and floodplain limitations on the use of the Skagit River shorelines, particularly the levee system, the majority of the shoreline shall be identified and reserved for recreational and open space uses.
3. Existing and projected water-oriented uses shall be accommodated through environment designation policies and regulations based on the inventory of existing shoreline resources and analysis of future demand for water-oriented uses.
4. Because navigation is restricted to small boats, primarily for sports fishing, preference shall be given to those uses that allow a significant number of people to enjoy the shoreline, public access (water-enjoyment) and/or uses that demonstrably pursue shoreline objectives.
5. Preference shall also be given to uses that enhance the ecological viability and enhancement of fisheries habitats along the Skagit River shoreline.
B. Public Access Element.
1. The public access system shall provide for both physical and visual access. The system shall include but not be limited to public lands and shall seek to increase the amount and diversity of public access to the state’s shorelines and adjacent areas consistent with the natural shoreline character, property rights, including the public’s rights under the public trust doctrine, and public safety.
2. The public’s right to use the surface waters of the state for navigation under the public trust doctrine shall be protected.
3. The public’s right to view the waters of the state shall be protected, including measures such as maximum height limits, setbacks, and view corridors to minimize the impacts to existing views from public property or substantial numbers of residences.
4. The primary public access area to the Skagit River shall consist of the land that is subject to the interlocal agreement with Dike District No. 12, with motorized public access at Gardner Road Bar and just west of the Railroad Bridge and with nonmotorized public access along the levee adjacent to the Skagit River.
5. Public access to Gages Slough shall include, where appropriate, viewing areas or interpretative trails and publicly owned park lands. Decisions on where to locate public access and the extent of access that is allowed will be based on best scientific information developed specifically for Gages Slough.
C. Recreation Element.
1. Ensure optimal recreational opportunities now and in the future in shoreline areas that can reasonably tolerate, during peak use periods, active, passive, competitive, or contemplative uses without destroying the integrity and character of the shoreline.
2. The Skagit River public recreation area specifically includes the shorelines extending from Gardner Road Bar to the Burlington-Mount Vernon Bridge for fishing, boating, passive and active recreation activities. As the setback levee is constructed through the bridge corridor, opportunities for public access will increase.
3. The Gages Slough recreation opportunities shall be limited based on the best available scientific information developed specifically for Gages Slough.
4. Recreation policies in the parks and recreation comprehensive plan are adopted here by reference and those policies are consistent with growth projections and level-of-service standards.
D. Circulation Element.
1. Existing and planned circulation systems are adequate to serve as access to shorelines.
2. Nonmotorized routes that connect the community with the shorelines and include environmental restoration and interpretative components shall be made whenever feasible.
E. Use Element.
1. It is the goal to protect and restore the Gages Slough wetlands to optimize water quality, habitat, best management practices and ensure that adjacent land use patterns are compatible with the protection and enhancement of the wetlands and take advantage of the unique attributes of the site, allowing no net loss of wetlands, and for Gages Slough, to also increase the size of culverts, remove obstructions, develop and implement specific plans to improve the functions relative to surface water management, and generally improve the flow characteristics to provide for efficient conveyance of water through the city during flood events.
2. It is the goal to allow limited use of the Skagit River and its shoreline compatible with the current edition of the Burlington floodplain management and natural hazard mitigation plan, consistent with the following priorities: recognizing and protecting the state-wide interest over local interests, preserving natural character, realizing long-term over short-term benefit, protecting resources and ecology, increasing public access to publicly owned areas, increasing recreational opportunities, providing for any other element that is appropriate or necessary.
F. Conservation and Restoration Element.
1. The Skagit River riparian corridor shall be managed in accordance with regional watershed planning standards and best management practices, including vegetation management of shoreline areas fronted by levees. Adaptive management techniques shall be employed as additional scientific information and regional mitigation plans are developed.
2. The floodplain shall be managed in accordance with applicable federal, state, regional and local regulations, best management practices and best available science practices, along with the city of Burlington floodplain management and natural hazard mitigation plan.
3. Reclaim and restore areas which are biologically and aesthetically degraded to the greatest extent feasible while maintaining appropriate use of the shoreline. Preserve and protect the natural resources of the shorelines in the public interest and for future generations.
4. Protect ground water aquifers from contamination.
5. Protect native vegetation and wildlife within the protected wetlands and riparian corridors and their buffers, and encourage planned buffer restoration and parks open space enhancement; provided, that, in the case of the shoreline fronted by levees along the Skagit River, vegetation management standards are established by the Corps of Engineers, as may be amended.
6. Encourage the cleanup and ecological restoration of degraded shorelines, including the Gages Slough corridor.
G. Historic and Cultural Element.
1. Identify, protect, preserve and restore important archaeological, historical and cultural sites located in shorelines for educational and scientific purposes, and enjoyment of the public.
2. Optimize educational opportunities by encouraging interpretative displays and facilities for educational purposes, as part of public access.
H. Flood Damage Reduction Element.
1. Continue to work closely with the Dike Districts, Skagit County, and business and property owners in flood risk reduction planning.
2. Implement the flood risk reduction planning objectives and projects in the city of Burlington as further defined in the Burlington floodplain management and natural hazard mitigation plan.
3. Participate in watershed-wide programs to reduce flood hazards and improve shoreline ecology. (Ord. 1786 § 1, 2013).