This checklist covers submittal requirements for Critical Areas Reasonable Use Permits (CARUP) and for Critical Areas Special Use Permits (CASUP). These are permits required for development in environmental critical areas when the strict application of critical area regulations would otherwise deny all reasonable use of a property or would otherwise unreasonably prohibit the provision of public services. CARUPs are generally for private property owners while CASUPs are for public agencies and utilities. Please review Shoreline Municipal Code (SMC) 20.80 to learn about the City’s critical areas regulations, SMC 20.30.333 to learn about requirements for CASUPs, and SMC 20.30.336 to learn about requirements for CARUPs. 

How to Apply

Apply for this permit online at the City of Shoreline's eTRAKiT permitting portal. Once you are logged into your account, select Apply/New Permit from the left-hand sidebar and select the following permit type from the drop-down menu: Pre-Intake Record (PIN).

Once PIN requests are submitted, the rest of the intake process is facilitated by a permit technician. A permit technician will send further instructions by email to complete the process.

Prerequisites

• Neighborhood Meeting
  • The neighborhood meeting must be held before the application can be submitted to the City.

Required Documents

• Permit Application and Critical Areas Worksheet
• Submittal Fee 
  •  Please reference the City's fee schedule for current application fees.
• Cover Letter
  • Must address the critical areas reasonable use criteria in SMC 20.30.336(B) for CARUP applications, or the critical areas special use criteria in SMC 20.30.333(B) for CASUP applications.
  • Explain in detail how your proposal meets each of the criteria.
• Critical Areas Report(s)
  • Must be prepared by a qualified professional.
  • Multiple critical areas reports may be needed if multiple types of critical areas are involved with the site.
  • Preapplication response comments describe requirements for critical areas reports.
• Neighborhood Meeting Summary 
  • Please see requirements in SMC 20.30.090(C). 
  • Must include list of meeting attendees and their contact information (address or email address).
  • Must include a copy of the notice that was mailed, and the mailing list. 
  • Summary of concerns, issues and problems expressed during the meeting, and the applicant’s response to each item. 
  • A summary of proposed modifications or changes to address neighbor concerns, OR a summary of why the applicant is unwilling or unable to address the concern.  
• Site Plan
  • All critical areas and their buffers must be shown, as described in the critical areas report(s). All geohazards off-site, and their buffers, within 200 feet of the subject property must be shown. All streams and wetlands, and their buffers, within 300 feet of the subject property must be shown. 
• Tree Worksheet

Additional Documents (Possibly Required)

• Landscaping Plan
  • Required for projects with impacts to trees or other regulated vegetation.
  • Tree retention and protection plan must show:
    • Tree retention details, including location, size, species, critical root zone and condition of all existing trees on the property.
    • Identification of trees to be retained, trees to be preserved, and location of planted trees.
    • Graphic representation and written description of proposed tree protection measures and tree and vegetation planting details.
  • New landscaping plans must show:
    • Location, size and spacing of all proposed plantings at maturity.
    • Plant schedule that includes the plants’ common and botanical names and the planting size and quantity to be planted with a certified and registered landscape architect, contractor or nurseryman.
    • Planting details for ground cover, shrubs, trees, and street trees. 
• SEPA Environmental Checklist
  • Required if the project is not categorically exempt as described in SMC 20.30.560 or WAC 197-11-800.
  • Additional fee for SEPA Environmental Checklist review is required at the time of application, as specified in the City's fee schedule.
• Supporting Documents 
  • Mitigation plans, special reports, or other surveys which help to demonstrate how the project meets the CARUP criteria.