Are subdivisions considered development for shoreline purposes?
Subdivisions and short plats are not defined as development under RCW 90.58.030(3)(d) & (e), so a short plat wouldn’t require a substantial development permit. The authors of the “Shoreline, Coastal Zone & Watershed Management” chapter of Real Property Deskbook note that the shoreline permit requirement does not seem applicable to governmental actions merely prerequisite to shoreline development, such as platting or rezoning. They cite the Narrowsview Association v. Tacoma, 84 Wn.2d 416 (1974), case in which an act of rezoning that “does not involve any physical alteration of the land or irrevocable commitment to allow such a physical alteration” did not require a shoreline permit. Even so, any approved subdivision should be consistent with shoreline environment and shoreline use regulations adopted by a city or county, even if a permit is not required. If the plat is conditioned on certain physical improvements being made which meet the definition of substantial development, a permit
