Washington’s Shoreline Management Act and Shoreline Master Program Updates

City of Fife Special Planning Commission Meeting May 19, 2019

Presentation goals

Provide an overview of the state’s approach to shoreline management.

Describe Phase 3 process - Tasks 3.1 through 3.5

Question/Comment period regarding the Draft SMP Document

Passed by the Legislature in 1971; voter approved through public referendum (statewide vote) in 1972.

Three basic policies:

1. Protect the environmental resources of state shorelines.

2. Promote public access and enjoyment opportunities.

3. Give priority to uses that require a shoreline location.

Shoreline Management Act

Shoreline Master Program• Carries out the policies of the Shoreline Management Act at the local level.

• Must be consistent with the policy and provisions of the SMA and the shoreline master program guidelines (WAC 173-26, Part III) – Most recent version of the guidelines effective on 3/14/11.

• SMP update schedule is defined by the SMA – For example, SMP updated for Pierce County and all cities within its boundaries are due by 2011.

Shoreline Master Program Planning Process

Phase 1: Identify Shoreline Jurisdiction and Public Participation Plan

Phase 2: Shoreline Inventory, Analysis and Characterization

Phase 3: Environment Designation, Policy and Regulation Development, and Cumulative Impact Analysis

Phase 4: Restoration Plan and Re-visit Phase 3 products

Phase 5: Local Adoption

Phase 6: State Adoption

Where we are today

• Phase 3– Tasks 3.1 through 3.5

• 3.1 – Conduct Community Visioning Process• 3.2 – General Goals, Policies, and Regulations• 3.3 – Develop Environmental Designations• 3.4 – Develop policies, regulations, and standards for shoreline

uses and modifications • 3.5 – Develop administrative provisions

– Future Task 3.6 : Cumulative Impacts Analysis– Future Task 3.5 : How Phase 3 complies with Guidelines

Shoreline Environmental Designations

• 5 Total– Conservancy– Levee– Shoreline Residential– Urban– Aquatic

Shoreline Environmental Designations

Shoreline Environmental Designations

Shoreline ResidentialPage 23 & 43

ConservancyPage 20 & 43

UrbanPage 24 & 43

AquaticPage 27 & 43

Shoreline Environmental Designations

LeveePage 26 & 43

Wetlands are in Conservancy Environment

Bulk Regulations

• Height, Impervious Surface, and Shoreline Setback.

Max Height 30 feet typically

Good

Too Tall

Land Use Policies

• Historic Preservation– Artifacts

• Public Access– Public use

• Conservation– Wetlands, habitat, etc.

• Structural Flood Hazard Reduction Measures– (Dikes, Levees)

Critical Areas Ordinance

• Incorporated in Appendix B• Portions of the CAO that are inconsistent with

the SMA (e.g. Reasonable Use Exceptions, Variances, etc.) are removed from the SMP version

Next Steps

• Task 3.6 - Cumulative Impacts Analysis

• Task 3.7 - Submittal Checklist

• Phase 4: Restoration Plan

Discussion