Chapter 4
Master Program Elements:

Goals & Policies for the Port Townsend Shoreline Master Program

SECTIONS:

4.1    Introduction

4.2    Shoreline Use Element

4.3    Economic Development Element

4.4    Circulation Element

4.5    Public Access Element

4.6    Recreational Element

4.7    Conservation Element

4.8    Restoration and Adaptive Management Element

4.9    Historic, Cultural, Scientific and Educational Element

4.1 Introduction

This section contains goals that form the foundation of the Shoreline Master Program and apply to all areas of Port Townsend shoreline jurisdiction, regardless of the designated shoreline environment. The Shoreline Management Act requires cities to adopt goals, or “elements,” to guide and support major shoreline management issues RCW 90.58.100(2)

4.2 Shoreline Use Element

Purpose

As required by RCW90.58.100(2)(d), this section addresses the proposed general distribution and location and extent of uses on shorelines and adjacent land areas for housing, business, industry, transportation, agriculture, natural resources, recreation, education, public buildings and grounds, and other categories of public and private uses of the land.

Goal

To establish and implement policies and regulations for land uses that are consistent with the requirements of the Act, the Shoreline Guidelines, and the GMA, and which promote a mixture of reasonable and appropriate shoreline uses that enhance the City’s character, emphasize its connection with marine trades, foster its historic and cultural identity, protect environmental resources and achieve a net ecosystem improvement over time.

Policies

Policy 4.2.1

Maximize water-dependent and water-related industrial and commercial uses in the Port of Port Townsend Boat Haven shorelines.

Policy 4.2.2

Encourage marine trades and water-oriented uses within Point Hudson that are in keeping with the small-scale and historic character of the area and are compatible with surrounding areas.

Policy 4.2.3

Allow a limited range of non-water oriented uses within the downtown National Register Historic District as a means of promoting preservation/rehabilitation of historic buildings and revitalization of the district as a whole.

Policy 4.2.4

Protect existing shoreline and water views, promote public safety, and avoid adverse impacts to marine bluffs and nearshore habitat in designing new residential development.

Policy 4.2.5

Ensure public safety, enhance public access, and achieve no net loss of shoreline ecological functions by appropriately locating, designing, and operating all activities, development and redevelopment.

4.3 Economic Development Element

Purpose

As required by RCW90.58.100(2)(a), this section addresses the location and design of industries, industrial projects of statewide significance, transportation facilities, port facilities, tourist facilities, commerce and other developments that are particularly dependent on their location on or use of the shorelines of the state.

Goal

To foster a balanced, diversified and sustainable local economy that contributes to Port Townsend’s high quality of life, through the protection and enhancement of the community’s natural, historical, and cultural amenities, and the improvement of the financial well being of its residents.1

Policies

Policy 4.3.1

Support and maintain visitor services and maritime industries as significant components of the area economy.

Policy 4.3.2

Give priority to new shoreline commercial and industrial development that is water-dependent, water-related or which provides a significant public benefit in the form of restoration of ecological functions/enhancement of public access and/or revitalization of historic resources.

Policy 4.3.3

Support the expansion of passenger-only ferry services from Port Townsend to other Puget Sound urban areas as well as the San Juan Islands and Victoria, B.C., and cooperate with state and federal service from Port Townsend to these locations.1
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City of Port Townsend Comprehensive Plan – Transportation Element Policy 6.13


Policy 4.3.4

Strengthen the marine trades economy while protecting the natural environment and balancing public use of shoreline areas

a.    Maintain and enhance Port Townsend’s character as a working waterfront town by allowing marine-related commerce and industry in specified shoreline areas.

b.    Assist the Port in the development and implementation of master plans for Port properties that are consistent with the Growth Management Act and the Shoreline Master Program.

c.    Plan and design shoreline open spaces that are compatible with marine-related industrial and commercial uses of shoreline areas.

d.    Promote the skill, motivation and availability of Port Townsend’s marine trades workforce as a regional resource of major importance to the City’s economic future.

e.    Encourage governmental and civilian agencies to work with local firms to identify and transfer technology that can increase marine trade’s competitiveness.

f.    Encourage the creation of marine trades jobs that are dependent upon traditional skills, construction techniques, and materials, such as: sail and canvas accessory manufacture; spar and rigging construction; marine-oriented carpentry; construction of wooden boats; blacksmithing; and block-making and casting.

i.    Support educational and vocational training efforts aimed at enhancing traditional marine trades skills, including mentorship and apprenticeship programs.

ii.    Promote traditional marine trades enterprises on Port owned lands at both the Boat Haven and Point Hudson by working with the Port of Port Townsend.

g.    Encourage development of the Northwest Maritime Center.

4.4 Circulation Element

Purpose

As required by 90.58.100(2)(d) RCW, this section addresses the general location and extent of existing and proposed major thoroughfares, transportation routes, terminals, and other public utilities and facilities, all correlated with the shoreline use element.

Goal

To achieve safe, convenient non-motorized-friendly, and diversified circulation systems to provide public access to the shoreline, efficient movement of people and goods, with minimum disruption to the shoreline environment and minimum conflict among shoreline uses and between shoreline users and abutting upland areas.

Policies

Policy 4.4.1

Site non-water-dependent transportation and parking facilities as far upland from the shoreline as feasible to reduce interference with both the shoreline ecology as well as other more appropriate shoreline uses.

Policy 4.4.2

Minimize impacts to the topography and other natural characteristics of the shoreline by appropriately locating transportation routes.

Policy 4.4.3

Provide and/or enhance physical and visual public access along shoreline public roads (i.e., turnouts, viewpoints and rest areas) where appropriate given topography, views and natural features.

Policy 4.4.4

Encourage the use of bicycles, shuttles and other alternative modes of transportation for general access to and from the waterfront.

4.5 Public Access Element

Purpose

This section makes provisions for public access to the shoreline as required by 90.58.100(2)(b) RCW.

Goal

To provide, maintain and enhance a safe, convenient, and balanced system of public access, both physical and visual: A system that increases the amount and diversity of opportunity for the public to enjoy the shorelines of the state, including access for people with disabilities to the extent feasible, while respecting the rights of private ownership; a system that is respectful of fragile natural features of the shorelines and strives to maintain the character of the community.

Policies

Policy 4.5.1

Incorporate building and landscape design standards to protect and enhance public access. Design standards should include but are not limited to height, bulk, scale, setbacks, signage, lighting and preservation of view corridors through modulation of building heights and massing. Encourage the use of native vegetation where landscaping is required.

Policy 4.5.2

Preserve and enhance shoreline access areas through acquisition, enhancement of shoreline street ends, signage of public access points, and designation and design of specific shoreline access areas for small vessels such as kayaks. Discourage privatization of public rights-of-way (i.e., street vacations).

Policy 4.5.3

Promote a coordinated system of connected pathways, sidewalks, passageways between buildings, beach walks, and shoreline access points that increase the amount and diversity of opportunities for walking and chances for personal discoveries.

Policy 4.5.4

Provide access for a range of users including pedestrians, cyclists, boaters and people with disabilities to the extent feasible.

Policy 4.5.5

Vary public access opportunities by providing a range from urban water walks to viewing platforms of natural areas.

Policy 4.5.6

Expand the amount and diversity of shoreline public access opportunities consistent with the character, functions and values of the shoreline, private property rights, and public safety.

Policy 4.5.7

Encourage plans by existing industries and public agencies occupying waterfront lands, including the Port of Port Townsend, Washington State Ferries, and Washington State Parks, to provide as much public accessibility to the water as practicable, consistent with public safety, homeland security concerns, and the protection of shoreline ecological functions.

Policy 4.5.8

Ensure that development, uses and activities on or near the shoreline do not impair or detract from the public’s visual or physical access to the water consistent with constitutional and other legal limitations on the regulation of private property.

4.6 Recreational Element

Purpose

As required by 90.58.100(2)(c) RCW, this section provides for the preservation and enlargement of recreational opportunities, including but not limited to parks, tidelands, beaches, and recreational areas.

Goal

To develop and maintain appropriate public and private recreational opportunities that are compatible with adjacent uses and that minimize disruption and degradation of the shoreline environment, recognizing the importance of existing park, trail and recreation areas.

Policies

Policy 4.6.1

Increase opportunities for water-oriented recreation in coordination with Jefferson County, State Parks, and City of Port Townsend Parks Department.

Policy 4.6.2

Provide a balance of passive and active, recreational and open spaces.

Policy 4.6.3

Prohibit recreational facilities and activities that adversely affect the integrity and character of the shoreline, or which threaten fragile shoreline ecosystems and ecological functions.

Purpose

4.7 Conservation Element

This section addresses the preservation of natural resources, including but not limited to scenic vistas, aesthetics, and fish and wildlife habitat as required by 90.58.100(2)(f) RCW.

Goal

To preserve shoreline natural resources including scenic vistas, aesthetics, estuaries, beaches, shorelines, fragile ecological areas, fish and wildlife habitats, native vegetation and landforms, water and air.

Policies

Policy 4.7.1

Protect critical areas and shoreline ecological processes and functions through regulatory and non-regulatory means that may include acquisition of key properties, regulation of development, and incentives to encourage ecologically sound design.

Policy 4.7.2

Locate, design, construct, and operate development so as not to degrade water quality as measured by state water quality standards.

Policy 4.7.3

Mitigate all foreseeable environmental impacts and achieve, at a minimum, no net loss of shoreline ecological functions.

4.8 Restoration and Adaptive Management Element

Purpose

Consistent with the Shoreline Management Act’s policy on protection and restoration of environmental resources of the shoreline, this section addresses the requirement to achieve “no net loss of ecological functions necessary to sustain shoreline natural resources” and to provide for the restoration of impaired ecological functions.

Goal

To achieve No Net Loss and strive to improve impaired shoreline ecological functions with the goal of achieving improvement over time, when compared to the status at the time of adoption of the Master Program.

Policies

Policy 4.8.1

Implement the Restoration Plan as described in Chapter 14 of this Master Program.

Policy 4.8.2

Encourage projects that restore/rehabilitate/enhance shoreline resources. Strategies may include but are not limited to a simplified permit process, reduced or waiver of permit fees, public outreach, encouraging landowners to replant with native vegetation, tax relief, and city participation in a pilot project.

Policy 4.8.3

Provide incentives to restoration by implementing tools which may include, but are not limited to: modifying the buffers that would apply to the restored areas or allowing a greater range of uses or flexible development standards (e.g., setbacks, height limits, lot coverage) on properties providing restoration and/or affected by restoration buffers.

Policy 4.8.4

Craft a preferential tax incentive in coordination with the County through the Public Benefit Rating System administered by the County under the Open Space Taxation Act (RCW 84.34) to encourage private landowners to preserve natural shoreline features for “open space” tax relief.

Policy 4.8.5

Employ Adaptive Management: Monitor and analyze the cumulative impacts of development permitted in shoreline areas, including development exempt from a shoreline Substantial Development Permit. Where impacts are occurring beyond that anticipated, the City should revise the Master Program to address the cumulative impacts, and/or revise the conditions of approval of developments to address the new information.

Policy 4.8.6

The City shall develop a “scorecard” as a tool to evaluate potential restoration projects consistent with the criteria listed in Chapter 14, Section 14.10 “Project Evaluation”.

4.9 Historic, Cultural, Scientific, and Educational Element

Purpose

For the protection and restoration of buildings, sites, and areas having historic, cultural, scientific, or educational values.

Goal

To ensure the recognition, protection, and restoration of shoreline areas that have historical, cultural, educational, or scientific value to the community, and create a unique “sense of place” in the shoreline jurisdiction.

Policies

Policy 4.9.1

Foster greater appreciation for the importance of shoreline management, environmental conservation, and maritime history and activities by encouraging educational projects and programs.

Policy 4.9.2

Ensure that new development is compatible with existing historic structures and cultural areas, and that it promotes the creation of our own legacy for the future.

Policy 4.9.3

Encourage the rehabilitation, renovation, and adaptive reuse of upper floors of historic buildings (e.g., for artist studios, permanent housing, and office space), which will contribute to the vitality of the Historic Landmark District.
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City of Port Townsend Comprehensive Plan - Economic Development Goals & Policies – Goal 1