CITY OF DES MOINES SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM

Des Moines Shoreline Master Program
Area of special flood hazard 3 . The land within a flood plain subject to a one percent or greater
chance of flooding in any given year. These areas include, but are not limited to, streams, rivers,
lakes, coastal areas, and wetlands.
Apartment 3 . A room, or a suite of two or more rooms in a multiple dwelling or in any other
building not a single-family dwelling or a duplex dwelling occupied or suitable for occupancy as
a dwelling unit for one family.
Apartment hotel 3 . A building containing dwelling units and six or more hotel rooms or suites.
Apartment house 3 . A building or a portion of a building, designed for occupancy by three or
more families living separately from each other and containing three or more dwelling units.
Appeal, closed record 1 . As defined by RCW 36.70B.020(1), a “closed record appeal” means an
appeal of a land use action following an open record public hearing on a proposed land use
action. Such an appeal is on the record established during the open record pre-decision public
hearing with no new evidence or information allowed. During a closed record appeal, only
appeal argument is allowed.
Appeal, open record 3 . An appeal related to an open record public hearing held prior to a
decision on a proposed land use action . An open record hearing may be held on an appeal, to be
known as an “open record appeal hearing” if no open record pre-decision hearing has been held
on the land use action.
Aquifer 3 . A consolidated or unconsolidated ground water-bearing geologic formation or
formations that contain enough saturated permeable material to yield significant quantities of
water to wells.
Bank 2 . A steep rise or slope at the edge of a body of water or water course.
Beach nourishment 2 . The artificial replenishing of a beach by delivery of materials dredged or
excavated elsewhere.
Berm 2 . A ledge or shoulder consisting of mounded earth or rock.
Bluff 3 . A steep slope which abuts and rises from Puget Sound. Bluffs contain slopes
predominantly in excess of 40 percent, although portions may be less than 40 percent. The toe of
the bluff is the beach of Puget Sound. The top of a bluff is typically a distinct line where the
slope abruptly levels out. Where there is no distinct break in slope, the slope is either the line of
vegetation separating the unvegetated slope from the vegetated uplands plateau or, when the
bluff is vegetated, the point where the bluff slope diminishes to less than 15 percent.
Boathouse, private 3 . An accessory building, or portion of building, which provides shelter and
enclosure for a boat or boats owned and operated only by the occupants of the premises.
Boathouse Public 3 . A boathouse other than a private boathouse, used for the care, repair, or
storage of boats, or where such boats are kept for remuneration, hire, or sale.
KEY: 1. RCW or WAC 2. 1988 SMP Glossary 3. City Zoning Code 4. New Definition
Department of Ecology approval effective November 1, 2010
114 Adopted by City of Des Moines Ordinance No. 1502