Chapter 21.74 SHORELINE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS

Chapter 21.74
SHORELINE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS

Sections:

21.74.010 Applicability.

21.74.020 Maximum impervious surface.

21.74.030 Maximum height.

21.74.040 Shoreline setbacks.

21.74.050 Parking and loading facilities.

21.74.060 Landscaping requirements.

21.74.070 Lighting.

21.74.010 Applicability.

(1) The requirements of this chapter apply when a property owner or their representative initiates new development or redevelopment on their property, which is also inside the shoreline jurisdiction.

(2) Existing uses and/or conditions not in compliance with the requirements of this chapter may continue unaffected subject to the limitations for shoreline nonconformance prescribed in WMC 21.73.080. (Ord. 716 § 4 (Att. A), 2021)

21.74.020 Maximum impervious surface.

(1) The total impervious surface within the shoreline jurisdiction shall not exceed the standards set forth in Table 21.74.020. The maximum impervious surface standard on a property is determined by the adjoining river to the shoreland and the corresponding shoreline environment.

(2) Compliance with the maximum impervious surface standards is calculated as a percentage using the total impervious surface on the lot divided by the lot area within the shoreline jurisdiction.

Table 21.74.020 – Maximum Impervious Surface
River Adjoining the Shoreland	Aquatic	Conservancy	Residential	Urban Conservancy	Urban General
Sammamish River	Not Applicable*	15%	50%	10%	75%
Little Bear Creek	Not Applicable*	15%	30%	10%	80%

*Other shoreline development standards applicable to the Aquatic Environment shall govern the amount of impervious surface over water allowed.

(3) Where a lot has both Conservancy Environment and one or more Residential, Urban Conservancy or Urban General Environments, the total maximum impervious surface allowed and how it may be distributed on the lot is determined as follows:

(a) The lot area exclusively within the Conservancy Environment is multiplied by the corresponding percentage in Table 21.74.020; and

(b) The lot area exclusively within each of the other Shoreline Environments is multiplied by the corresponding percentage in Table 21.74.020; and

(c) The impervious surface square footage calculated for each subsection (3)(a) and (b) of this section are combined to produce the total square footage of impervious surface allowed on the lot within the shoreline jurisdiction; and

(d) The total square footage of impervious surface set forth in subsection (3)(c) of this section may be distributed over the entire lot provided the total square footage of impervious surface exclusively inside the Conservancy Environment does not exceed the maximum impervious surface set forth for the Conservancy Environment in Table 21.74.020. (Ord. 716 § 4 (Att. A), 2021)

21.74.030 Maximum height.

(1) The maximum height of any new or expanded building or structure is 35 feet above average grade level, except height may be increased if:

(a) The additional height does not exceed height limitations set forth elsewhere in the Woodinville Municipal Code; and

(b) The building or structure will not substantially obstruct the views of 10 or more existing residential dwelling units; and

(2) The maximum height standard set forth in WMC 21.74.030 shall not apply to:

(a) Communication antennas;

(b) Flag poles;

(d) Rooftop mechanical equipment that does not project more than 40 feet above average grade level; and

(e) Appurtenances similar to those identified in this subsection, except where such appurtenances substantially obstruct views of adjoining and nearby properties. (Ord. 716 § 4 (Att. A), 2021)

21.74.040 Shoreline setbacks.

The City does not establish shoreline setbacks as the buffers for Type S streams set forth in WMC 21.77.120(6) are found to provide adequate protections for no net loss to shoreline ecological functions. (Ord. 716 § 4 (Att. A), 2021)

21.74.050 Parking and loading facilities.

(1) The following apply to parking and loading facilities located within the shoreline jurisdiction:

(a) Only allowed pursuant to the shoreline use table in WMC 21.72.030;

(b) New surface parking facilities may not be erected waterward of buildings unless other locations are not feasible on the site for meeting minimum parking requirements and it can be demonstrated that drainage runoff will not cause a net loss of shoreline ecological functions;

(d) Must be designed and operated to avoid surface runoff of contaminants into nearby watercourses;

(e) Surface parking must incorporate low impact development techniques to address surface water runoff;

(f) Parking facilities must be screened from nearby publicly used trails, public streets, public parks and other public spaces using landscaping that at a minimum satisfies the following:

(i) Landscaping around the perimeter and within the parking area to soften edges and break up large parking areas;

(ii) Landscaping must provide a sight-obscuring barrier from nearby publicly used trails and shoreline water bodies that includes the following:

(A) Plant species shall be of Northwest native stock;

(B) A minimum of one tree at least four feet in height is required for each 30 linear feet of planting area;

(2) Loading facilities located within the shoreline jurisdiction shall be:

(a) Screened from view of pedestrians waterward of the facility using a fence or wall and landscaping consistent with the standards in subsections (1)(f)(i) and (ii) of this section;

(b) New loading facilities may not be erected waterward of buildings unless other locations are not feasible on the site for meeting minimum loading space requirements and it can be demonstrated that drainage runoff will not cause a net loss on shoreline ecological functions; and

21.74.060 Landscaping requirements.

The following requirements apply to landscaping for new development within the shoreline jurisdiction:

(1) All new landscaping shall use Northwest native plantings;

(2) At least 60 percent of new landscaping shall consist of drought-tolerant species, unless it can be demonstrated that the landscape area will have enough moisture to ensure growth;

(3) Existing Northwest native vegetation may be used to augment new plantings to satisfy landscaping requirements;

(4) If a landscaping strip is greater than 20 feet in width, trees shall be staggered in a pattern approved by the City to create a design having a more natural appearance;

(5) Shrubs shall have a minimum 24 inches in height at the time of planting;

(6) Groundcover shall be planted and spaced to result in total ground coverage within three years of planting;

(7) Fences shall be placed on the inward side of any required perimeter landscaping;

(8) If a berm is incorporated into the landscaping, it should not exceed a slope of three horizontal feet to one vertical foot for lawns and two horizontal feet to one vertical foot for other plant materials; and

(9) Drought-tolerant and non-drought-tolerant species shall be distributed and irrigated in a manner that uses water efficiently. (Ord. 716 § 4 (Att. A), 2021)

21.74.070 Lighting.

The following requirements apply to lighting associated with new development within the shoreline jurisdiction:

(1) Lighting shall be designed and constructed to minimize glare and prevent glare and light from intruding on neighboring properties;

(2) Lighting shall not shine directly on the water and where lighting may intrude onto a water body; the lighting should use a color spectrum that avoids giving an advantage to salmonids predators;

(3) Lighting for active outdoor recreational uses shall not be illuminated by artificial light between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. daily;

(4) Lighting shall incorporate cutoff shields as necessary, and any impacts mitigated using landscape screening; and

(5) A lighting plan shall be submitted with development proposals and demonstrate how the proposal complies with this section. (Ord. 716 § 4 (Att. A), 2021)