CITY OF DES MOINES SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM

Des Moines Shoreline Master Program
proponents are responsible for complying with all applicable laws prior to commencing any use,
development or activity. Where this Program makes reference to any RCW, WAC, or other state
or federal law or regulation the most recent amendment or current edition shall apply. In the
event this Program conflicts with other applicable County policies or regulations, all regulations
shall apply and unless otherwise stated, the more restrictive provisions shall prevail.
The Des Moines SMP refers to the City's Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Code and other
development plans and ordinances for which this SMP has relevance. Des Moines' SMP is to be
considered an overlay of the Zoning Code, Title 18, Des Moines Municipal Code. Overlay zones
are a set of zoning requirements that are described in the Zoning Code, are mapped and
subsequently imposed in addition to those regulations of the underlying zoning classification.
Development within the overlay zone must conform to the requirements of both zones. In case
of conflict, the stricter requirement applies.
In October of 1972, the City established a permit system in compliance with the first requirement
of the SMA. Under this system, a permit must be obtained from the City for any proposed
substantial development within the Des Moines shoreline jurisdiction. “Development” is defined
in Chapter 8, consistent with RCW 90.58.030(3)(d). “Substantial development” is defined in
Chapter 8, consistent with RCW 90.58.030(3)(e). Substantial development means any
development of which the fair market value exceeds five thousand seven hundred eighteen
dollars ($5,718), or any development that would interfere with the normal public use of the water
or shorelines. The definition of substantial development addresses how increases to the $5,718
threshold will be determined by changes in the consumer price index.
In compliance with the second requirement of the Act, the City completed in March 2005 a
comprehensive inventory of natural characteristics, functions and values of resources, existing
land use, and ownership patterns along the City's shorelines (Appendix A).
Therefore, once this Shoreline Master Program is adopted, the City’s critical area regulations
will not apply to property located within the jurisdiction governed by this program. This program
directly incorporates many of the substantive requirements for critical areas found in DMMC
18.86. However, it is important to note that there remain procedural differences between DMMC
18.86 and the SMP. Please refer to Chapter 3 for SMP policies related to critical areas; Chapter 6
for regulations related to critical areas; and Chapter 7 for administrative procedures related to
critical areas.
1.6 Public Outreach
The SMP update utilized a variety of public outreach activities. A public open house was held in
November 2004 to review preliminary findings from the shoreline inventory and characterization
work and solicit input and feedback from the public. A second open house was held in April
2005 to review and solicit input on updated general goals and policies and proposed shoreline
environment designations. During the fall of 2005, additional outreach activities included
articles in the City newsletter and the Des Moines News. A presentation on the SMP update
project was given at a Saturday workshop hosted by the Highline Community College Marine
Science and Technology Center in Redondo. From November 2004 through November 2005,
five public meetings were held with the Des Moines Planning Agency to work through updated
Department of Ecology approval effective November 1, 2010
8 Adopted by City of Des Moines Ordinance No. 1502