CITY OF DES MOINES SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM

Des Moines Shoreline Master Program
5. Accessory use facilities such as restrooms, recreation halls and gymnasiums, commercial
services, access roads and parking areas shall be located inland from shoreline areas unless it
can be shown that such facilities are shoreline dependent. These areas shall be linked to the
shoreline by walkways.
6. In approving shoreline recreational developments, the City shall ensure that the development
will maintain, enhance or restore desirable shoreline features, including unique and fragile
areas, scenic views and aesthetic values. To this end, the City of Des Moines may adjust
and/or prescribe project dimensions, location of project components on the site, intensity of
use, screening, parking requirements and setbacks as deemed appropriate to achieve the
intent of this program.
7. Proposals for recreational development shall include a landscape plan in which native, selfsustaining
vegetation is preferred.
8. The removal of on-site native vegetation shall be limited to the minimum necessary for the
development of picnic areas, selected view or other permitted structures or facilities.
6.3.8 Residential Development
Residential use is not water-dependent but is a preferred use of the shorelines when such
development is planned and carried out in a manner that protects shoreline functions and
processes consistent with the no net loss provisions of this Program. Uses, structures, and
alterations to the natural environment associated with residential development that are identified
as separate use activities or shoreline modifications in this program (such as piers and docks;
bulkheads; utilities; fill; and clearing and grading) are subject to the regulations established for
those uses in addition to any special conditions relating to residential areas established in this
section.
1. Residential development in the Urban Conservancy, High-Intensity, and Aquatic shoreline
environments is prohibited.
2. Residential development in the Shoreline Residential environment, when permitted by the
Zoning Code, shall be permitted within the shoreline area only when the standards of this
section are met.
3. Residential development over water, including floating homes, is prohibited.
4. New residential development will be located and designed to avoid the need for future
shoreline stabilization to the extent feasible. Plats and subdivision of land must be designed,
configured, and developed in a manner that assures that no net loss of ecological functions
results from the plat or subdivision at full build-out of all lots, and prevent the need for new
shoreline stabilization or flood hazard reduction measures that would cause significant
impacts to other properties or public improvements or a net loss of shoreline ecological
functions.. New development on steep slopes or bluffs shall be set back sufficiently to ensure
that shoreline stabilization is unlikely to be necessary during the life of the structure, as
demonstrated by a geotechnical analysis.
5. Residential development shall retain and protect the natural vegetation of the shoreline area,
or restore and enhance natural vegetation according to the Vegetation Conservation and Land
Clearing and Grading provisions of the SMP.
Department of Ecology approval effective November 1, 2010
Adopted by City of Des Moines Ordinance No. 1502 81