Shoreline Master Program

 In 2003 the Department of Ecology adopted new Shoreline Master Program (SMP) Guidelines based on the State Shoreline Management Act. Cities and counties across the state (about 250 in all) were mandated to update their shoreline master programs to be consistent with the new guidelines within the decade. Plan goals should include ways to encourage water-dependent uses, protect shoreline natural resources, and promote public access.  The State has offered grant monies to assist cities and counties in their updates.  The City of Shoreline applied for and received a two-year grant for the 2008-2009 biennium.

Local master programs regulate new development and use of “shorelines of statewide significance” within their jurisdictions. According to Department of Ecology (DOE) definitions and an inventory performed in 2004, the areas affected in Shoreline are the properties on the Puget Sound coastline.  This information will be reviewed and updated (if necessary) by a consultant paid for by the grant. 

In 1998, with the adoption of its own Comprehensive Plan, the City adopted a Shoreline Master Program Element that contains goals, policies and maps of shoreline environments.  Shoreline’s existing master program reflects the elements that were in the King County SMP in 1995 when Shoreline incorporated.  Though consistent with the King County SMP, the City’s SMP element was not reviewed by the Department of Ecology and does not qualify as part of the City’s recognized SMP.  The City continues to apply the 1995 King County SMP rules to regulate shoreline development, but is required by the DOE to adopt one that reflects the updated guidelines from the State.

Shoreline’s grant, which runs through 2009, will assist staff in meeting the State requirements for the SMP update, which is currently scheduled for completion by June 2010.   Most of the State grant dollars will be used to hire a consultant to perform technical work such as conducting an inventory and analysis, mapping conditions, determining environmental designations, characterizing ecosystem-wide processes, analyzing cumulative impacts, and identifying opportunities for protection and restoration. The funding does not cover the full cost of developing the SMP update. It is possible that the State may have additional grant dollars to distribute in the next biennium.  However, if that money is not made available to Shoreline, the City will have to subsidize some portions of developing the SMP.

Phase I

One of the initial tasks is to collect existing shoreline data from a variety of sources.  The data gathering phase is an important aspect of the update in that it involves connecting with people and organizations for obtaining current shoreline information. This data will be analyzed and portrayed on maps, tables and illustrations in a way that characterizes the shorelines’ ecological conditions.  This inventory and characterization will provide the scientific and technical foundation from which the remainder of the SMP update process will evolve.  The existing SMP will be evaluated as to its compliance with the new guidelines, and gaps will be identified (Gap Analysis). Draft policies, shoreline designations and regulations will then be developed using the findings from the inventory and characterization.  As required in the SMP guidelines, the City will also develop a draft restoration plan for selected areas to help improve ecological functions and values over time.

Phase II

The draft documents prepared in Phase I will be advanced and refined into a Final Shoreline SMP under this second phase.  SEPA environmental review of the Draft SMP will begin in Phase II of the process.

Strategies to involve the public

The main forum for SMP discussions during Phase I will occur at Planning Commission meetings.  However, public information will be distributed and public input will be solicited at key points during the process to coincide with major project milestones, specifically:

• Shoreline inventory and characterization

• Review of SMP compliance with State guidelines

• Preliminary update of SMP goals and policies

• Development of preliminary Shoreline Environment Designations

• Update and development of preliminary SMP regulations

• Development of preliminary restoration plan

More extensive public outreach will be conducted during Phase II, specifically:

• SEPA compliance

• Development of the Draft SMP package

All of these deliverables will be posted on this web page as soon as they are available, so please continue to check back for the most recent information.

If you would like to be added to an email list to be informed about future open houses or other events concerning the update, please contact Miranda Redinger, Project Manager, at 206-801-2513 or email her at mredinger@ci.shoreline.wa.us.