“First Touch” on Shoreline Master Program Update before Council on Oct. 28
by Colin Maycock, San Juan County Senior Planner
The County Council’s first touch on the Shoreline Master Program (SMP) update is scheduled to continue on October 28, 2013 after 9 a.m. in the Legislative Hearing Room at 55 Second St. Friday Harbor. Public comments on the SMP will now be taken as part of the discussion. Members of the public are invited to speak and/or provide written comments. The SMP regulates development and activities located 200 feet landward of the Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) and seaward to the county line or Canadian border.
The purpose of this first touch meeting will be to review both the Planning Commission’s recommended amendments to Section B, Element 3 of the San Juan County Comprehensive Plan (the SMP) and the further amendments proposed by staff.
When finally adopted, the County’s updated SMP will include;
a.A Comprehensive Plan element that identifies specific goals and policies the regulations are expected to implement.
b.A regulatory element that will be included in the Unified Development Code. This element will include regulations pertinent to allowed and prohibited uses and development standards particular to shoreline designation and use.
c.A mandatory shoreline restoration plan, the implementation of which shall be voluntary.
The following documents are available on the County’s website for your review and consideration:
a. The Planning Commission’s recommended SMP goals and policies and the selection criteria for the different shoreline designations; https://www.sanjuanco.com/CDP/
b. The staff’s proposed amendments to the shoreline goals and policies approved by the Planning Commission; https://www.sanjuanco.com/CDP/
c. The staff report that accompanies the amendments to the shoreline goals and policies proposed by staff; https://www.sanjuanco.com/CDP/
d. The Planning Commission’s recommended amendments to SJCC 18.20 definitions, 18.50, the regulations and 18.80 permit processes; https://www.sanjuanco.com/CDP/
e. A map of the proposed shoreline designations; https://www.sanjuanco.com/CDP/
f. A map of San Juan Island with only proposed changes displayed; https://www.sanjuanco.com/CDP/
g. A map of Orcas Island with only proposed changes displayed; https://www.sanjuanco.com/CDP/
h. A map of Lopez Island with only proposed changes displayed; https://www.sanjuanco.com/CDP/
The proposed shoreline designations are:
C=Conservancy (Green)
N=Natural (Blue)
PMT= Ports, marinas and marine transportation (Purple)
R=Rural (Orange)
RFF=Rural Farm Forest (Brown)
RR=Rural Residential (Yellow)
U=Urban (Red)
Descriptions of the purposes and characteristics of each district can be found beginning on page 12 in the SMP goals and policies document above at a.
i. A copy of the draft Cumulative Impact Analysis (CIA) of the proposed regulations in which the current regulations are compared to the proposal;
https://www.sanjuanco.com/CDP/
j. A copy of the Planning Commission’s recommended Shoreline Restoration plan; https://www.sanjuanco.com/CDP/
k. A comparison of statutory requirements, the current shoreline regulations and the proposed amendments; https://www.sanjuanco.com/CDP/
l. A copy of the Department of Ecology’s Aquacultural Siting Study (1986); https://www.sanjuanco.com/CDP/
State law requires the County to update its SMP (RCW 90.58.080(2)(iv)), and Washington Administrative Code (WAC) chapter 173-26 sets forth the appropriate procedure for carrying out that update.
Beyond meeting State requirements, the staff approached the SMP update with the goal of retaining the existing regulations where possible, while simplifying and clarifying the development regulations that apply in the shoreline.
To achieve this redundancies are reduced by eliminating or combining sections; clarifying development requirements; increasing the consistency in the use of terms; and eliminating unnecessary sections such as specific shoreline districts for Shaw Island and Eastsound however, many of the differences that the subarea shoreline districts are retained.
If you have any questions or comments please contact Maycock at 360-370-7573 or by email at colinm@sanjuanco.com.
**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**
