King County Shoreline Master Program: Comprehensive Update

Public Comment Requested - February 14 to March 16, 2012 at 5:00 p.m.

The Washington State Department of Ecology seeks public comment on King County's proposed comprehensive update to its Shoreline Master Program (SMP). There are nearly 2,000 miles of shoreline in King County.

This is the first comprehensive update of the King County SMP since 1977. King County is revising its shoreline environments, aquaculture standards, public access requirements, standards for nonconforming structures, and general development requirements for areas within shoreline jurisdiction (generally within 200 feet of marine areas, rivers, and lakes).

King County's updated shoreline program:

Creates eight classifications to fit King County's varied shorelines.
Protects shorelines next to existing aquatic reserves.
Includes a restoration plan showing where and how voluntary improvements in water and upland areas can enhance the local shoreline environment.

Ecology will compare King County's proposed program to the requirements of the Shoreline Management Act and the Shoreline Master Program Guidelines. Based on the comparison, Ecology will decide whether to:

Approve the program as is or with recommended changes, or
Send the proposed program back to the County with required changes to meet statutory and rule requirements. Recommended changes may also be included with the required changes.

Learn more: Citizen Guide to Shoreline Master Programs

Public Comment Period

Opens: February 14, 2012
Closes: March 16, 2012 at 5 p.m.

All interested parties are invited to provide comment during this public comment period. There are several ways to provide comments. You only need to submit your comments once.

Submit written comments and questions to:

David Radabaugh
Washington State Department of Ecology
Northwest Regional Office
3190 160th Avenue SE
Bellevue, Washington 98008-5452
David.Radabaugh@ecy.wa.gov
(425) 649-4260

Comments must be received no later than March 16, 2012 at 5 p.m.

Documents for public review and comment

Note: All documents are PDF.

King County Ordinance No. 16985, November 30, 2010 (10,321 KB)

Attachment A-Chapter 5 Policies (620 KB)

Chapter 21A.25 Shorelines, December 2010 (394 KB)
Code Sections Incorporated by Reference, April 2011 (800 KB)

Shoreline Designation Maps, August 2011

Cumulative Impact Assessment, September 2010 (330 KB)
Public Access Plan, September 2010 (77 KB)
Protection and Restoration Plan, September 2010 (775 KB)
Technical Appendix Volume 1, Inventory and Characterization, May 2007 (1,685 KB)

Attachment A, Glossary (53 KB)
Attachment B, Basin Context Files (238 KB)
Attachment C, Lakes Tables (17 KB)
Attachment D, Data Sources and Criteria for Data Selection (54 KB)
Attachment E, Ecosystem Process Definition Tables (86 KB)
Attachment F, Alterations Analysis Flow Charts (112 KB)
Attachment G, Protecting aquatic ecosystems: A guide for Puget Sound Planners to understand watershed processes, by Stanley and Grigsby, Washington Department of Ecology, 2005 (12 KB)
Attachment H, Bibliography (143 KB)
Attachment I, GIS Analysis to Update Shoreline Jurisdiction Map (12 KB)

If you have troubles with accessing documents, please contact David Radabaugh, with Washington State Department of Ecology.

Paper copies are available at the following locations:

Washington State Department of Ecology
Northwest Regional Office
3190 160th Avenue SE
Bellevue, Washington 98008-5452
(425) 649-7000
Staff contact: David Radabaugh

King County Department of Development and Environmental Services
Blackriver Corporate Park
900 Oakesdale Avenue SW
Renton, Washington 98055-1219
(206) 296-6600
Staff contact: Harry Reinert

Next steps: Response to public comment and decision

A summary of comments will be posted here a few weeks after the comment period closes. We will also post King County's response to public comments and a notice of Ecology’s decision when they become available. Please check back.