Your comments sought on county's Shoreline Master Program update

The Thurston County Planning Commission invites public testimony on the proposed Shoreline Master Program (SMP) comprehensive and periodic updates.                                                                                                                     

Thurston County residents and shoreline stakeholders are invited to attend and provide comment at a Shoreline Master Program (SMP) Planning Commission Public Hearing on Wednesday, October 20^th, 2021 at 7pm.

The SMP regulates development and redevelopment along the marine shorelines of Puget Sound as well as large lakes and streams and has not been significantly updated since its adoption in 1990. Depending development plans, SMP updates may affect shoreline properties. To maintain compliance with the state Shoreline Management Act, the county is considering updates to shoreline jurisdiction, environment designations, and associated regulations.

What: Public Hearing for Thurston County SMP update

When: Wednesday, October 20^th, 2021 at 7pm

Where: Thurston County Courthouse, 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Olympia, WA 98502, Building 1, Room 280. Masking and distancing requirements will be in place.

Virtual Option: The public may register to attend via Zoom on the Planning Commission’s website one week prior to the hearing: https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/planning/Pages/pc-meetings.aspx.

 Note: Due to the increased number of COVID cases in the county, the public are encouraged to exercise the option to attend virtually, via Zoom, or to submit testimony by e-mail to Andrew Deffobis, at andrew.deffobis@co.thurston.wa.us or via letter: Community Planning and Economic Development Department, 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Olympia, WA 98502.

The public can learn about the SMP update via an online Open House at: https://tinyurl.com/y6n9738e. This includes fact sheets on how the code is proposed to change, interactive maps to view shoreline properties and any changes proposed to the property’s environment designation, and a full draft of the proposed SMP. The online Open House also provides opportunities to ask questions of staff and submit public comment for this hearing. The Open House is available online through October 20^th.

Thurston County is conducting this comprehensive update of its SMP as required by state law. The update also includes items required by the WA State Department of Ecology (Ecology) in what is referred to as the periodic update. The Board of County Commissioners will also hold a public hearing on the SMP in the coming months. The updated SMP must be approved by Ecology before it can become final and take effect.

The above was provided by Thurston County.