Sammamish Shoreline Master Program: Comprehensive Update

On August 17, 2011, the Department of Ecology approved the City of Sammamish’s Shoreline Master Program (SMP) comprehensive update. Sammamish’s shoreline program had not been updated since the City began implementing King County’s program at the time of City incorporation. Sammamish joins the cities of Kirkland and Redmond in earning state approval of shoreline program updates related to Lakes Sammamish and Washington. The updated program takes effect on August 31, 2011.

The City’s updated program will provide significant improvements in the protection, use, development, and restoration of the City’s nearly 12 miles of shoreline along Lake Sammamish, Pine Lake and Beaver Lake. It will also promote the protection and restoration of shoreline habitat, accommodate historic land use patterns, and support public parks along the City’s shorelines.

The program combines local plans for future shoreline development and preservation with new shoreline development ordinances and related permitting requirements. Appeals of the Ecology’s approval of Sammamish’s updated shoreline program may be filed with the Growth Management Hearings Board. See Appeals (below) for details.

Sammamish's updated program also:

Adopts revised dock standards that minimize impacts to migrating salmon, consistent with other state and federal requirements.
Encourages soft-bank erosion control methods and limits new shoreline armoring.
Includes a restoration plan of voluntary improvements that can enhance the local shoreline environment.
Helps support the broader initiative to protect and restore Puget Sound.

On May 5, 2011, the Department of Ecology provided Sammamish with required and recommended changes to the City’s proposed update submitted to Ecology in October 2010. These changes were needed to meet state law and requirements for shoreline program updates. The City agreed to most of the changes, and offered alternative language for others. Final Ecology approval has occurred now that the City and Ecology have agreed on language that meets state law and requirements.

Documents related to approval

Note: All documents are PDF

Director of Ecology's August 17, 2011 approval letter (160 KB)
- Attachment A - Findings and Conclusions Addendum; City's response to Ecology's May 5, 2011 decision (391 KB)
- Attachment B - Revised; City's response to Ecology's May 5, 2011 required changes (939 KB)
City of Sammamish's July 20, 2011 acceptance letter (1,088 KB)
- City of Sammamish Response to Changes July 18, 2011 (795 KB)
Director of Ecology's May 5, 2011 conditional approval letter (159 KB)
- Attachment A: Findings and Conclusions (637 KB)
- Attachment B: Required Changes (847 KB)
- Attachment C: Recommended Changes (568 KB)
- Attachment D: Responsiveness Summary for Public Comments (567 KB)
- Exhibits A-F (documents referenced in the decision) (3,679 KB)
Locally approved Shoreline Master Program, October 2009 (1,602 KB)
- Inventory and Characterization Report, June 2007 (5,212 KB)
- Cumulative Impacts Analysis Report, Revised January 2010 (963 KB)

Per RCW 90.58.090, the effective date of Sammamish's shoreline program is August 31, 2011, fourteen days from the date of the Director's final letter of approval.

Paper copies of the above documents are available by contacting Joe Burcar, Washington State Department of Ecology (see staff contact below).

Appeals

Per RCW 36.70A.290, an interested party may file an appeal with the Growth Management Hearings Board within 60 days of the publication date of Ecology’s notice of final action.
Ecology plans to publish the notice of final action in the Seattle Times legal ads on August 25, 2011.

Staff contact

Joe Burcar
Washington State Department of Ecology, Northwest Regional Office
3190 160th Avenue SE
Bellevue, WA 98008-5452
Joe.Burcar@ecy.wa.gov
(425) 649-7145