13.07.010 Natural.
A. Purpose. The purpose of the “Natural” environment is to protect those shoreline areas that are relatively free of human influence or that include intact or minimally degraded shoreline functions intolerant of human use. These systems require that only very low-intensity uses be allowed in order to maintain the ecological functions and ecosystem-wide processes.
B. Designation Criteria. Natural environment designation should be assigned to shoreline areas if any of the following characteristics apply:
1. The shoreline area is ecologically intact and therefore currently performing an important, irreplaceable function or ecosystem-wide process that would be damaged by human activity;
2. The shoreline area is considered to represent ecosystems that are of particular scientific and educational interest, such as high-quality wetlands; or
3. The shoreline is unable to support new development or uses without significant adverse impacts to ecological functions or risk to human safety.
C. Management Policies.
1. Any use or development activity that would degrade the ecological functions or adversely alter the natural character of the shoreline area should be severely limited or prohibited.
2. Development activity in the Natural environment should only be permitted when no suitable alternative site is available on the subject property outside of shoreline jurisdiction.
3. The following new uses should not be allowed in the Natural environment:
a. Commercial uses;
b. Industrial uses;
c. Non-water-oriented recreation; and
d. Roads, utility corridors, and parking areas that can be located outside of Natural-designated shorelines.
4. Single-family residential development may be allowed as a conditional use within the Natural environment if the density and intensity of such use is limited as necessary to protect ecological functions and be consistent with the purpose of the environment.
5. Commercial forestry is prohibited.
6. Development, when feasible, should be designed and located to preclude the need for shoreline stabilization, flood control measures, native vegetation removal, or other shoreline modifications.
a. Development activity or land surface modification that would reduce the capability of vegetation to perform normal ecological functions should be prohibited.
b. Subdivision of property in a configuration that, to achieve its intended purpose, will require significant vegetation removal or shoreline modification that adversely impacts ecological functions should not be allowed. Each new parcel must be able to support its intended development without significant adverse ecological impacts to the shoreline ecological functions.
7. Controlled and restricted access may be permitted for scientific, historical, cultural, educational and low-intensity water-oriented recreational purposes, provided there are no significant adverse ecological impacts. (Ord. 2112 § 3 (Exh. C), 2013).