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[Portal ID #1967]

Franklin County Planning Project

Summary of the project

Franklin County is conducting a periodic review of its Shoreline Master Program (SMP).

  • 1/19/2023 - INITIAL DRAFTS NOW AVAILABLE: View the initial draft with proposed changes here and the initial project review checklist here.
  • 3/26/2023 through 4/17/2023 - PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: Submit comments during the 30-day comment period. For more information, click here.
  • 3/26/2023 - SEPA DNS: The County has issued a Determination of Non-Significance on the environmental impacts. Find the SEPA checklist here and the SEPA DNS here (also available in the "Library" page).
  • 4/11/2023 - PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED: The Planning Commission and the Department of Ecology will hold a public hearing on the proposed amendment. View the event details. View the memo.
  • 5/3/2023 - The County has compiled all public comments and the County's responses into a comment matrix, available here.

BACKGROUND

The Shoreline Management Act (SMA) requires each SMP to be reviewed and revised, if needed, on an eight-year schedule established by the Legislature, in accordance with WAC 173-26-090. The review ensures the SMP stays current with changes in laws and rules, remains consistent with other County plans and regulations, and is responsive to changed circumstances, new information, and improved data. 

The current SMP was last updated in 2016. Since then new state laws, rules, and guidance have been updated which may require amendments to the SMP. The Department of Ecology publishes a checklist of state laws, rules, or other applicable documents published each year that require local governments to review their SMP for conformance. In 2022, the city's consultant, AHBL, reviewed the checklist and identified opportunities for amendments.

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Public participation is a requirement of the Shoreline Management Act. As part of the County's Periodic Review, the County has prepared a public participation plan which describes how the public will be informed about and involved in decision making for the SMP update. The County also acknowledges that a variety of stakeholders and partners have particular interests in the County's SMP, such as:

  • Business organizations, environmental groups, and other non-governmental organizations
  • General public
  • Government Agencies
  • Native American Tribes
  • Owners of property within the shoreline jurisdiction

 The County is keeping a list of agencies, partners, stakeholders and property owners who want to recieve future updates including notifications of public meetings and hearings.  You can request to be added to the list at this link. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT IS A SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM?

Shoreline Master Programs are both planning and regulatory documents. SMPs carry out the policies of the Shoreline Management Act on local shorelines. An SMP consists of a comprehensive use plan, use regulations, maps, diagrams or other descriptive material, statement of desired goals and standards for shorelines of the state [RCW 90.58.030(3)(b)]. SMPs are based on state laws and rules and tailored to local geographic and environmental conditions and existing development patterns.

WHAT IS A THE SHORELINE MANAGEMENT ACT?

The Shoreline Management Act (SMA), RCW 90.58, provides a statewide framework for managing, accessing, and protecting shorelines. Now more than 40 years old, the SMA reflects the strong interest of the public in our shorelines and waterways for recreation, protection of natural areas, aesthetics, and commerce.

WHAT LAWS OR RULES HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE SMP WAS LAST AMENDED?

Ecology has prepared a checklist of all laws and rules adopted, organized by year. The checklist is accompanied by a guidance document that explains each item. In 2022, the County reviewed its SMP and identified potential updates that would ensure compliance with newly adopted laws or guidance. Based on this checklist, amendments will be prepared.

 IS THE PUBLIC PERMITTED TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE PROCESS AND ON PROPOSED SMP CHANGES?

Yes, in fact, the SMA requires public participation for all amendments. Ecology rules call for a public participation plan that should include broad dissemination of informative materials, proposals and alternatives, opportunities for written comments, public meetings after effective notice, provisions for open discussion, and consideration of and responses to public comments. The plan will ensure the public knows when to comment on the scope of the review and proposed changes, and when the Board of County Commissioners is expected to take formal action. Comments will be accepted throughout the project until the SMP is formally adopted. An open house is scheduled to provide the public with opportunities to speak with County staff in person and have their voices heard as decisions are made regarding amendments to the SMP. The public will also have an opportunity to comment at the public hearing where the Board of County Commissioners will consider proposed amendments to the SMP.

WHERE DOES THE SHORELINE MASTER PROGRAM APPLY?

The SMP applies in all Shorelines of the State within Franklin County.  The Washington State SMA defines the Shoreline of the State as “all ‘shorelines’ and ‘shorelines of statewide significance’ within the state” (RCW 90.58.030). The shoreline includes floodways, land within 200 feet of the ordinary high water mark (OHWM) of the waterways, floodplains up to 200 feet from the floodway edge, and associated wetlands.   

 Updated January 19, 2023

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