  |
|
|
Several bills amending the Shoreline Management Act (SMA) and the Growth Management Act (GMA) were signed into law by the Governor at the end of the 2009 legislative session. Each of these amendments went into effect July 26, 2009. Below is a description of each bill with a link to the bill summary.
Adds moratoria authority and procedures to the SMA. Includes provisions for a maximum duration of 18 months at the local level, plus a six-month review period at Ecology for a local Shoreline Master Program amendment that is subject to a moratorium.
“Relief” procedures established for instances in which a shoreline restoration project within an Urban Growth Area creates a shift in Ordinary High Water Mark, and this shift creates a use hardship for properties subject to new or extra regulation.
This is an efficiency measure allowing a three-member “short board” to be used at the discretion of the Chair. (Previous law limited short-boards to small projects, such as single-family and docks.)
Prohibits Urban Growth Area expansion within 100-year floodplains. This change will link to some SMP updates (especially for cities) in terms of anticipated future land use within floodplains.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
