Below is a sample of the architectural standards at Salmonberry Beach. A complete list of architectural standards and the development’s CCRs may be obtained from the ACC.

Size

The septic system in place for each Salmonberry Beach lot is designed to accommodate a home with three or fewer bedrooms. The maximum size home that may be built on a Salmonberry lot is 2,500 square feet; the minimum is 400 square feet. These maximum and minimum sizes exclude open porches and garages. It is the ACC’s opinion that bigger is not always better; smaller, well-designed homes are well suited to Salmonberry’s landscape.

Building Height and Profile

The number of stories and the profile of each building affect the overall look and available views in Salmonberry Beach. At this time height restrictions at Salmonberry are dictated by Grays Harbor County’s designated height rules. These rules currently allow lots 1, 2, and 3 to have houses up to 28 feet tall and the rest of the homesites to have houses up to 35 feet tall. It is the homesite owner’s responsibility to verify these height rules with Grays Harbor County.

Recommended Homesites

The ACC recommends that homesite owners place their homes on the homesite locations shown on the Salmonberry Beach plat map. In this way view corridors can be maximized.

Exterior Lighting

All outdoor lighting fixtures and standards are to be approved by the ACC. Exterior light fixtures, whether attached to the home or installed elsewhere, must be limited in their impact in order to preserve the nighttime dark sky by minimizing the amount of exterior lighting. In general, exterior lighting should be subtle and obscured so as not to impose on neighbors. Down-light fixtures that illuminate indirectly and are shielded, recessed, or directional will safely light areas. Driveways and walkways may be illuminated along their edges with fixtures that are close to the ground. Ornamental lighting is discouraged except for holiday periods. Standard power company halogen night-lights are not allowed.

Outdoor Furnishings

Outdoor furnishings are considered an extension of architecture that becomes part of the landscape. Whether the furniture is permanently fixed in position or portable, careful consideration of materials, color design, size and location should be given to remain consistent with the overall building and site design. Colors of awnings, umbrellas and outdoor furnishings should be selected to be harmonious to the overall look of the property.

Garages

Because of their size, garages can dominate the front façade of a dwelling. Creative and sensitive garage placement should be explored so that, where feasible, a garage may be incorporated into the plan without detraction from the overall residence. Each dwelling is required to have off street parking for at least two cars. Garages may be detached as long as they are subordinate to the home and are of a complementary design.

To avoid a tacked on “storage shed” appearance, it is recommended that needed storage space be integrated into the overall design of the main living structure. Necessary storage needs should be anticipated and provided for in a garage of the appropriate size. Detached storage units that are not in character with the main residence are not permitted.

All passenger vehicles (including pickups and vans), RV’s, mobile homes, trailers, boats, tractors, wagons, and farm equipment or implements used or owned by the resident shall be kept and parked overnight within garages, or otherwise completely shielded from view.

Electrical Meters

Meters should be placed in a location so as to be accessible to the meter reader and yet not visible from adjoining roadways. A recessed or enclosed container complying with power company specifications can be designed into the wall of a house to conceal an electrical meter. All conduit wires servicing the meter are to be beneath the exterior wall sheathing or enclosed. All utilities at Salmonberry Beach are to be placed underground.

Trash storage, Antennas and Satellite Dishes

Trash storage, satellite dishes and television antennas are to be completely hidden from view. If antennas are desired, their location, size and installation must be approved by the ACC prior to their placement.

Exterior Walls

Walls, in addition to enclosing interior spaces, are one of the most important aspects of the exterior building design, and in a larger sense, reflect the image of Salmonberry Beach. Aside from consideration of scale and proportion, materials and colors chosen for the exterior surface are a major part of the aesthetic appeal.

1. Stucco wall finish without any trim, joints or surface articulation lacks interest.
2. Too many different materials used at once can create visual confusion.
3. High exterior walls with few openings or other interruptions can lack interest and appear out of scale.
4. Plywood siding with visible edge joints is very unattractive and should be avoided.

For aesthetic reasons the ACC strongly prefers cedar siding or cedar shingle exterior walls. These wood exteriors may be stained with clear, weathering oil, semi-transparent or transparent stains so that the natural wood grain shows through. Clear stained cedar exteriors fit nicely in a beach environment because as the cedar ages it assumes a driftwood color enabling the home to blend in well with the landscape.

Recognizing the progressiveness of the building industry, the ACC is willing to consider exterior materials other than cedar if the result can be expected to be high-end and both complement the natural environment and the other homes in the development.

Materials that are encouraged:
a) Natural wood siding.
b) Natural stone.

Materials that are discouraged:
a) Steel or aluminum siding.
b) Plastic siding.
c) Simulated stone, brick, or wood.
d) Plywood.

Natural materials such as stone and wood by their nature inherently work well with the surroundings. Natural color or transparent finishes on these materials not only enhance them, but actually improve with age and are low maintenance. Selective man-made materials of natural colors and textures may also be suitable. Only when man-made materials poorly mimic natural materials or are finished in bright or highly reflective colors, are they offensive. Also a balance should be kept with the mixture and number of materials used. The use of four or more different main materials can create confusion and detract from an otherwise good design. Conversely a large unbroken expanse of a single material can be a negative design feature.

Masonry

Masonry must be properly used in order to be most effective. To take full advantage of masonry care must be taken to avoid a ‘thin veneer’ appearance. This can best be accomplished through careful choice of how and where the stone edges occur. Also extremely thin stone veneer can have a poor appearance. A thicker veneer will create a sense of enduring quality.

Brick is best used when its edges are terminated at ‘inside’ corners.

Roof Materials and Elements

The placement of skylights should take exterior appearances into account as well as interior daylight needs. A skylight placed without consideration to exterior appearances may well detract from the design. Often skylights achieve the most attractive placement when positioned well away from difficult roof changes such as valleys and hips where leaks may develop. At a minimum, skylights should be of quality, insulated, double glazed construction. Bubble or domed skylights are not permitted.

Roofs at Salmonberry may be made of either cedar shingles or gray metal. By having just two roof materials across the homes at Salmonberry Beach a cohesive architectural character within the community will be created. All flashing, roof vents, hoods, and other roof elements should be finished with colors that blend into the roofing. Roofs must be designed to shed water quickly and to handle high velocity wind.

The following types of roof forms are discouraged:
a) Mansard
b) Domed
c) A-Frame

Solar panels are encouraged but they must be integrated into the overall roof form and placed flush with the surface they are attached to.

Chimneys

A chimney can be an excellent design feature. They are naturally strong elements because building codes require that they be taller than the surrounding roofline. A careful choice of materials and proportion is necessary to fully benefit from the chimney as a design element. Chimneys must include spark arrestors. The use of exposed concrete block (except architectural block) or exposed stovepipe-type chimneys is not permitted. The proportions of the chimney should give it a substantial, stable appearance.

Front Doors

Front doors are to be of high quality and craft.

Windows

Windows are to be of wood, vinyl clad or metal clad. Window trim colors may be natural wood, white, forest green, dark red, or black.

Because of the extreme weather by the ocean, windows should be insulating units.

Window openings of unusual shape or special treatments used arbitrarily or excessively become distracting to a good design. The use of such forms of treatment to ‘dress up’ a weak or monotonous design is not usually successful.

A special opening shape or treatment such as an octagonal or stained glass window will attract more attention than a conventional window. Such windows are special only if they are used with restraint and if they are carefully placed with respect to their interior and exterior positioning.

A consistent window type should be dominant throughout the overall design. If casement windows with divided light are used, they should be used through most of the house. “Snap in,” applied, or removable mullions are not permitted.

Inappropriate Designs

Although there may be merits to experimental or radical building designs, it has been determined that such departures from established architectural practice and construction techniques is not keeping with the quiet, understated character sought within Salmonberry Beach. Passive solar and energy efficient designs are encouraged and it is felt that these relatively new and innovative concepts can be incorporated without compromising design goals.

Lengthy research and consideration by the Board has shown that typically the most objectionable examples are those that result from so-called cost and timesaving construction methods such as kits or prefab modules or the adaptation of building systems more suited to uses other than for custom residential.

Landscape Design

Lot owners’ landscape design should complement Salmonberry’s overall landscaping plan by emphasizing native and drought tolerant species, preserving views, and working within the concept of there being three landscaping zones at Salmonberry of forest, meadow and seaside.

Lot owners are urged to preserve and enhance the existing trees and vegetation at the perimeter of their lots so as to provide visual privacy. With the permission of the ACC limited clearing will be permitted for the purpose of creating framed openings into the wetlands areas.

The boundaries between lots and between lots and common areas should be subtle. In this way a feeling of homes in a natural park setting is preserved.

Conclusion

Building in an oceanfront environment is an exciting and rewarding activity. It is undertaken by many different kinds of people who have at times quite a range of goals and attitudes. ‘Excellence’ is a term often used, but all too often the execution falls short of ‘excellence’. We are working very hard to define a standard of “Excellence” at Salmonberry Beach that will be adhered to and respected.