Lake Stevens sends new shoreline plan to state

Published 8:07 pm Sunday, December 4, 2011

LAKE STEVENS — Docks might be longer and bulkheads more environmentally friendly under new shoreline rules the city hopes the state will approve next year.

Lake Stevens and other cities along lakes or salt water must meet new state Department of Ecology standards intended to protect the natural shoreline.

For the most part, the changes would apply when existing structures are repaired, replaced or expanded. The rules will affect the homeowners of the 428 properties on the shore of Lake Stevens, as well as others who own property that is within 300 feet of the lake.

The proposed changes were made in time to meet a Dec. 1 deadline.

The city adopted its first shoreline management plan in 1974, said Karen Watkins, principal planner. The idea of such plans is to find a balance between shoreline development and preserving the natural environment.

Among the new rules included in the Lake Stevens Shoreline Master Program are a maximum length for docks of 150 feet and limited side-yard expansions of homes.

Docks are currently allowed to be the average length of the two adjacent docks, up to a maximum of 50 feet long. A new provision in the document allows for a dock to reach a water depth of 5.5 feet up to the 150-foot maximum length.

The 5.5-foot depth provides adequate depth for the general size of boats on Lake Stevens and avoids propeller wash affecting the lake bed, Watkins said.

Other changes include:

•New dock walkways can be a maximum of 4 feet for the first 30 feet from shore and up to 6 feet for portions of walkways which extend more than 30 feet from the shore. Existing dock dimensions can be retained when homeowners perform maintenance or replacement work but will be required to have a minimum of 40 percent open space decking material within the first 30 feet of the shore.

Additions up to 600 square feet are allowed to the side yard of an existing structure that is within the standard lake and building setback, if other requirements are met, such as those for impervious surfaces and setbacks from adjacent properties.

Covered moorage that is a maximum size of 240 square feet and at least 30 feet from shore is allowed in residential areas. Flat roofs on such structures are prohibited.

Homeowners may use a mix of both soft and hard shoreline stabilization methods, such as bulkheads, to help control erosion to property. However, soft structures are preferred. Hard shoreline stabilization measures include concrete, boulders and wood built up vertically. Soft measures include a mix of native vegetation, gravel, cobbles, boulders and logs.

A group of concerned residents, Save Our Shoreline Lake Stevens, formed and met during several public meetings to give input on changes to the original program during a local adoption process that began in April.

Residents including Kevin St. John, who started the Save Our Shoreline Lake Stevens group, were initially concerned with areas property owners typically look at improving or building. Those areas included docks, bulkheads and setbacks.

St. John said the group brought more interest to the city’s process.

“The actual Shoreline Management Act at the state level mandates public involvement,” he said. “We are trying to adhere to the letter and intent of the act to make sure we are bringing public participation into the process, and that isn’t accomplished by one or two people on a committee.”

The Department of Ecology typically takes four to six months to review and approve a locally adopted program, said Joe Burcar, a state shoreline planner. The department holds its own public comment period before final approval, he added.

Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491; adaybert@heraldnet.com.

Rules under review elsewhere, too

New rules meant to protect state waters and manage shoreline development in cities are being reviewed by the state Department of Ecology.

The Legislature in 2003 set up a timetable for local governments to update shoreline master programs. While programs for the cities of Darrington, Marysville and Sultan have been approved by the state, others from Mukilteo and Snohomish County are under review.

Cities including Edmonds, Granite Falls, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace and Stanwood also are in the process of updating their local shoreline management regulations.

“We’re doing substantial updates to be more consistent with the state rules, that have a lot more emphasis on restoration,” Edmonds planning manager Rob Chave said.

Edmonds’ document is being reviewed by the Planning Board. Public hearings will follow next year. The program will be need to be approved by the City Council before it is sent to the state.