40.460.440    Official Shoreline Map

A.    Map Established.

1.    The location and extent of areas under the jurisdiction of this Program, and the boundaries of various shoreline designations affecting the lands and water of the county, shall be as shown on the map entitled, “Official Shoreline Map, Clark County, Washington.” The official shoreline map and all the notations, references, amendments, and other information shown on the map are hereby made a part of this Program, as if such information set forth on the map were fully described herein.

2.    In the event that new shoreline areas are discovered (including but not limited to associated wetlands) that are not mapped and/or designated on the official shoreline map, these areas are automatically assigned an Urban Conservancy designation for lands within cities and urban growth areas, or Rural Conservancy – Residential if on lands outside urban growth areas until the shoreline can be re-designated through a Program amendment.

3.    In the event of a mapping error, the county will rely upon common boundary descriptions and the criteria contained in RCW 90.58.030(2) and Chapter 173-22 WAC pertaining to determinations of shorelands, as amended, rather than the incorrect or outdated map.

(Amended: Ord. 2020-12-01)

B.    File Copies.

    The Official Shoreline Map will be recorded with the Clark County Auditor’s office and kept in electronic format at the office of the Clark County Department of GIS and at Ecology. Copies of the map may be prepared for administrative purposes. To facilitate use of this Program a copy is included in the most recently adopted Clark County Comprehensive Growth Management Plan.

(Amended: Ord. 2020-12-01)

C.    Map Amendments.

    The Official Shoreline Map is an integral part of this Program and may not be amended except upon approval by the county and Ecology, as provided under the Act.

(Amended: Ord. 2020-12-01)

D.    Boundary Interpretation.

    If disagreement develops as to the exact location of a shoreline designation boundary line shown on the Official Shoreline Map, the following rules shall apply:

1.    Boundaries indicated as approximately following lot, tract, or section lines shall be so construed;

2.    Boundaries indicated as approximately following roads or railways shall be respectively construed to follow their centerlines;

3.    Boundaries indicated as approximately parallel to or extensions of features indicated in subsection (D)(1) or (2) of this section shall be so construed;

4.    Whenever existing physical features are inconsistent with boundaries on the Official Shoreline Map, the Shoreline Administrator shall interpret the boundaries with deference to actual conditions. Appeals of such interpretation may be filed according to the applicable appeal procedures described in Section 40.460.700, Administration and Enforcement.

(Amended: Ord. 2020-12-01)

E.    Shoreline Designation Changes and Urban Growth Boundary Revisions.

    When a portion of shoreline jurisdiction is brought into or removed from an urban growth area, a new shoreline designation may need to be assigned. Shoreline designations shall be assigned in accordance with Table 40.460.440-1, Shoreline Designations for Urban/Rural Boundary Revisions. Where more than one designation could be appropriate according to Table 40.460.440-1, the shoreline designation criteria in this chapter shall be applied and the best-fitting shoreline designation assigned. Shoreline designation assignments shall occur concurrently with the annexation or other legislative action to remove a portion of shoreline jurisdiction from a city or urban growth area and to amend the shoreline map and shall be effective upon approval by Ecology (see Section 40.460.440(B)).

 

Table 40.460.440-1. Shoreline Designations for Urban
1/Rural2 Boundary Revisions 

SENDING Jurisdiction Shoreline Designation	Transfer From/To	RECEIVING Jurisdiction Shoreline Designation(s)
Aquatic	Rural/Urban Urban/Rural	Aquatic Aquatic
Natural	Rural/Urban Urban/Rural	Natural Natural
Rural Conservancy – Residential	Rural/Urban	Urban Conservancy Medium Intensity
Rural Conservancy – Resource Lands	Rural/Urban	Urban Conservancy Medium Intensity High Intensity
Urban Conservancy	Urban/Rural	Rural Conservancy – Residential Rural Conservancy – Resource Lands
Medium Intensity	Urban/Rural	Rural Conservancy – Residential
High Intensity	Urban/Rural	Rural Conservancy – Resource Lands

1Urban = City or Urban Growth Area

2Rural = Unincorporated Clark County outside Urban Growth Areas

(Amended: Ord. 2012-07-16; Ord. 2020-12-01)