Chapter 22.32
RECREATIONAL RESOURCE PROTECTION—SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS
Sections:
22.32.020 Recreation intensity classes.
22.32.010 Approval standards.
The following standards shall apply to all new development and land uses in the special management area:
A. New development and land uses shall not displace existing recreational use.
B. Recreation resources shall be protected from adverse effects by evaluating new development and land uses as proposed in the site plan. An analysis of both on-site and off-site cumulative effects shall be required.
C. New pedestrian or equestrian trails shall not have motorized uses, except for emergency services.
D. Mitigation measures shall be provided to preclude adverse effects on the recreation resource.
E. The facility design guidelines are intended to apply to individual recreation facilities. Development or improvements within the same recreation intensity class are considered as separate facilities if they are separated by at least one-quarter mile of undeveloped land, excluding trails, pathways or access roads.
F. New development and reconstruction of scenic routes shall include provisions for bicycle lanes, whenever feasible. (Ord. 2021-05 (Att. A), 12-14-21; Ord. 2018-04 (Exh. A), 4-17-18; Ord. 2008-06 (part): Ord. 2006-11 (part): Ord. 2005-07 (part))
22.32.020 Recreation intensity classes.
Each recreation intensity class includes a description of the desired social, physical, and managerial setting for recreation development within each recreation intensity class. Each recreation intensity class also includes a list of allowable uses, subject to compliance with the approval standards set out in subsection (E) of this section.
A. Recreation Intensity Class 1 (Very Low Intensity).
1. Social Setting. Visitors in this designation have a high chance of finding solitude and opportunities to experience activities that rely on self-reliance, challenge and risk. Encounters with other visitors is low throughout the designation. Perceived crowdedness is low to nonexistent away from roads and recreation sites. Visitor encounters and perceived crowdedness is low to moderate at or near (within one mile) roads and recreation sites.
2. Physical and Managerial Setting. Predominately natural or natural-appearing landscapes with rustic improvements characterize this designation. Nodes of developed recreation facilities may be allowed. Developed recreation site regulations and controls (signing, regulations or other regimentation) are noticeable but harmonize with the natural characteristics of the landscape setting. Away from developed recreation sites there is minimal or subtle control of users.
3. Trail development is simple and typically accommodates low use levels. Users are highly skilled with a high degree of orienteering skills.
4. The maximum design capacity for parking areas shall be ten vehicles.
5. The following uses may be permitted:
a. Trails and trailheads.
b. Parking areas.
c. Dispersed campsites accessible only by a trail.
d. Viewpoints and overlooks.
e. Picnic areas.
f. Signs.
g. Interpretive exhibits and displays.
h. Restrooms.
i. Accommodations for mass transportation facilities should be considered where compatible with the social and physical settings.
B. Recreation Intensity Class 2 (Low Intensity).
1. Social Setting. This designation is characterized by opportunities to experience relaxation, physical fitness and outdoor learning and where there is a moderate probability to experience solitude. Visitor encounters are low to moderate on trails and away from developed recreation sites and roads, and usually moderate to high near (within one mile) recreation sites and roads.
2. Physical and Managerial Setting. Predominately natural or natural-appearing landscapes with rustic improvements characterize this designation. Nodes of highly developed recreation facilities may be allowed. Developed recreation site regulations and controls (signing, regulations or other regimentation) harmonize with the natural characteristics of the landscape setting. Away from developed recreation sites there is minimal or subtle control of users.
3. Trails are moderately developed (native surface or gravel, trail bridges and other facilities are provided for user convenience). Trail use is typically low to moderate. Trails are suitable for a wide range of users and are challenging and involve intermediate to advanced skills.
4. The maximum design capacity for parking areas shall be twenty-five vehicles.
5. The following uses may be permitted:
a. All uses permitted in recreation intensity Class 1 are permitted in Class 2.
b. Campgrounds for twenty units or less, tent site only.
c. Boat anchorages designed for no more than ten boats at one time.
d. Swimming areas.
e. Accommodations for mass transportation facilities should be considered where compatible with the social and physical settings.
C. Recreation Intensity Class 3 (Moderate Intensity).
1. Social Setting. A high degree of interaction with other visitors with opportunities to experience relaxation and activities that provide little challenge or risk in a natural-appearing environment characterizes this designation. Visitor encounters are moderate to high on trails away from developed recreation sites and roads.
2. Physical and Managerial Setting. Changes to the natural landscape may be evident but in harmony with natural characteristics of the landscape setting. Highly developed recreation facilities and trails are constructed for visitor convenience. On-site regulation and controls are noticeable but harmonize with the natural environment.
3. Trails typically accommodate moderate to high use and are well developed (native, gravel or paved surfaces, trail facilities such as bridges are provided for convenience). Trails are easily traveled by a wide range of users who have intermediate skill level and minimal orienteering skills.
4. Permitted uses are those in which people can participate in activities to realize experiences such as group socialization, nature appreciation, relaxation, cultural learning and physical activity.
5. The maximum design capacity for parking areas shall be fifty vehicles. The general management area vehicle capacity level of seventy-five vehicles shall be allowed if enhancement or mitigation measures for scenic, cultural or natural resources are approved for at least ten percent of the site.
6. Accommodation of facilities for mass transportation (bus parking, etc.) shall be required for all new recreation intensity Class 3 day-use recreation sites and improvements to existing Class 3 day-use recreation sites where the improvement would increase the use of the site, except for sites predominantly devoted to boat access. The number and size of the mass transportation facilities shall reflect the physical capacity of the site.
7. All uses permitted in recreation intensity Classes 1 and 2 are permitted in Class 3, along with the following:
a. Campgrounds with improvements that may include water, power, sewer and sewage dump stations. Campgrounds shall not exceed a combination of fifty single or group campsites (tent or recreational vehicle) and a total design capacity of two hundred fifty people at one time.
b. Boat anchorages designed for not more than fifteen boats.
c. Public visitor, interpretative, historic and environmental education facilities.
d. Full-service restrooms that may include showers.
e. Boat ramps.
f. Riding stables.
D. Recreation Intensity Class 4 (High Intensity).
1. Social Setting. This designation is characterized by highly developed facilities where there is little challenge or risk associated with being in the outdoors. There is a high degree of interaction with other visitors. Encounters are high in recreation sites, and on roads and trails within this designation.
2. Physical and Managerial Setting. Landscapes with natural appearing backdrop are characterized by this designation. Highly developed recreation facilities and trails are constructed for visitor convenience and ease of movement. On-site regulation and controls are noticeable but harmonize with the natural characteristics of the landscape setting.
3. Trails are highly developed (gravel or paved surfaces, trail facilities such as bridges are provided for convenience) and accommodate heavy to intensive use. Users are typically inexperienced with little or no orienteering skills. Trails are easily traveled by a wide range of users.
4. Permitted uses are those in which people can participate in activities to realize experiences such as socialization, cultural and natural history appreciation and physical activity.
5. The maximum design capacity for parking areas shall be two hundred vehicles. The general management area vehicle capacity level of two hundred fifty vehicles shall be allowed if enhancement or mitigation measures for scenic, cultural or natural resources are approved for at least twenty percent of the site.
6. Accommodation of facilities for mass transportation (bus parking, etc.) shall be required for all new recreation intensity Class 4 day-use recreation sites and improvements to existing Class 4 day-use recreation sites where the improvement would increase the use of the site, except for sites predominantly devoted to boat access. The number and size of the mass transportation facilities shall reflect the physical capacity of the site.
7. All uses permitted in recreation intensity Classes 1, 2 and 3 are permitted in Class 4. The following uses may also be permitted:
a. Campgrounds with improvements that may include vehicle access, water, power, sewer, and sewage dump stations. Campgrounds shall not exceed a combination of one hundred single or group campsites (tent or recreational vehicle) and a total design capacity of five hundred people at one time.
E. Design Standards for Recreation Uses.
1. Recreation facilities that are not resource-based may be included at sites providing resource-based recreation uses consistent with the provisions of this chapter, as long as such facilities comprise no more than one-third of the total land area dedication to the recreation use or facilities.
2. The facility design standards are intended to apply to individual recreation facilities. Developments or improvements within the same recreation intensity class are considered as separate facilities if they are separated by at least one-quarter mile of undeveloped land, excluding trails, pathways or access roads.
3. Existing vegetation, particularly mature trees shall be maintained to the maximum extent practicable. These trees may be used to satisfy requirements for perimeter and interior landscaped buffers.
4. Parking areas providing over fifty spaces shall be divided into discrete “islands” separated by unpaved, landscaped buffer areas.
5. Lineal frontage of parking areas and campsite loops on scenic travel corridors shall be minimized.
6. Ingress and egress points shall be consolidated to the maximum extent practicable consistent with provision of adequate emergency access pursuant to applicable fire and safety codes.
7. Signs shall be limited to those necessary to provide relevant recreation or facility information, interpretive information, vehicular and pedestrian direction and for safety purposes.
8. Innovative designs and materials that reduce visual impacts (such as “turf blocks” instead of conventional asphalt paving) shall be encouraged through incentives such as additional allowable parking spaces and reduced required minimum interior or perimeter landscaped buffers. If potential visual impacts have been substantially reduced by use of such designs and materials, then the administrator may allow either:
a. Reductions up to fifty percent of required minimum interior or perimeter landscape buffers; or
b. Up to ten percent additional parking spaces.
9. A majority of trees, shrubs and other plants in landscaped areas shall be species native to the landscape setting in which they occur. Project applicants that are required to use new landscaping are encouraged to place trees, shrubs, and other plants in a manner approximating their natural condition.
10. For any parking area with over fifty spaces, interior landscaped buffers breaking up continuous areas of parking into discrete “islands” shall be provided. The minimum width of interior landscaped buffers separating each subarea of fifty spaces or less shall be twenty feet.
11. Grading or soil compaction within the “drip line” of existing mature trees shall be avoided to the maximum extent practicable, to reduce risk of root damage and associated tree mortality.
12. Project applicants shall use measures and equipment necessary for the proper maintenance and survival of all vegetation used to meet landscape standards and shall be responsible for such maintenance and survival.
13. All parking areas shall be set back from property boundaries by at least fifty feet. All campsites and associated facilities shall be set back from property boundaries by at least one hundred feet.
F. Variances. Variances may be granted to the parking and campground unit provisions under recreation intensity Class 4 listed in subsection (D) of this section of up to ten percent upon demonstration that all of the following conditions exist:
1. Demand and use levels for the proposed activity or activities, particularly in the area where the site is proposed, are high and expected to remain so or increase. Statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plan (SCORP) data and data from the National Visitor Use Monitoring Program shall be relied upon to meet this criterion in the absence of current applicable studies.
2. The proposed use is dependent on resources present at the site.
3. Reasonable alternative sites offering similar opportunities, including those in nearby urban areas, have been evaluated, and it has been demonstrated that the proposed use cannot be adequately accommodated elsewhere.
4. The proposed use is consistent with the goals, objectives, and policies in this chapter.
5. Through site design and mitigation measures, the proposed use can be implemented without adversely affecting scenic, cultural, or natural resources and adjacent land uses.
6. Through site design and mitigation measures, the proposed use can be implemented without affecting or modifying treaty rights.
7. Mass transportation shall be considered and implemented, if feasible, for all proposed variances to recreational intensity Class 4. (Ord. 2021-05 (Att. A), 12-14-21; Ord. 2018-04 (Exh. A), 4-17-18; Ord. 2008-06 (part): Ord. 2006-11 (part): Ord. 2005-07 (part))