Drafter
Clerk 08/12/2014
Title
AN ORDINANCE designating certain county shorelines as a county maritime heritage area.
Body
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Findings:
A. The council finds that the county's saltwater shoreline should be recognized as a unique and integral part of our state and national heritage.
B. This landscape has supported the development of a rich and diverse maritime heritage, including the canoe cultures of the Native American inhabitants, the spirit of exploration and the growth of marine industries. The water touches all aspects of daily life on the shoreline, including transportation, jobs, recreation and community activities.
C. The purpose of designating the county's saltwater shoreline as a county maritime heritage area is to preserve and share our cultural resources, to promote tourism and local economic development and to encourage the state legislature and Congress to recognize the Washington coast as a national maritime heritage area. The council takes note that the United States Congress has introduced legislation designating the Washington saltwater coast as a national maritime heritage area and finds that establishment of a county maritime heritage area is appropriate until replaced by a national maritime heritage area.
SECTION 2. King County's saltwater shoreline is designated as a county maritime heritage area. The designated area includes all federal, state, local and tribal lands within the county that allow public access and at least a part of which are located within one-quarter mile landward of the saltwater shoreline. In addition, the Lake Washington ship canal and the Lake Union shoreline are included in the maritime heritage area.
SECTION 3. The designation of the county maritime heritage area is intended to facilitate partnerships among federal, state, local and tribal governments, businesses, heritage organizations, individuals and other entities to:
A. Honor the cultural resources of the maritime heritage area;
B. Increase public awareness and appreciation for the natural, historic, scenic, recreational and cultural resources of the maritime heritage area;
C. Promote tourism and economic development within the state and local jurisdictions;
D. Coordinate with other designated county maritime heritage areas; and
E. Encourage the state legislature and Congress to designate the Washington saltwater coast as a national maritime heritage area.
SECTION 4. The maritime heritage area designation is only for the purposes of heritage and tourism promotion. Nothing in this ordinance:
A. Creates any regulatory jurisdiction or grants any regulatory authority to any government or other entity;
B. Abridges the rights of any owner of public or private property within the designated area; or
C. Establishes any legal rights or obligations, including any environmental or administrative review process involving land use.
SECTION 5. The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation is requested to serve as a point of contact and coordination for the county maritime heritage area.
SECTION 6. If either the state of Washington or the United States Congress designates a maritime heritage area for the state of Washington that includes shorelines in King County, the maritime heritage area created by this section ceases to exist as a separate county maritime heritage area.
SECTION 7. The clerk of the council is directed to send copies of this ordinance once enacted to the clerk of the Washington state House of Representatives, the clerk of
the Washington state Senate, the clerk of the United State House of Representatives and the clerk of the United States Senate.