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SMP RevisionSeattle Shorelines Master Program Revision
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In order to use your time in the most efficient manner and to meet your request that we focus the Committee's meetings on reviewing and providing recommendations on specific proposed changes to the SMP, our Shoreline Master Program Update Team is recommending that we skip our July meeting and instead add a meeting to the end of our schedule, in February or March 2009. The reason for this proposed schedule change is to accommodate a delay in the completion of our Shoreline Characterization work, which needs to be in place before other elements of the SMP update can be developed. As mentioned at our first Committee meeting, King County developed a characterization model that they used to analyze the current ecological conditions of their shorelines. King County worked closely with the Department of Ecology in developing this model. DPD, at the recommendation of the Department of Ecology, contracted with King County to use the same model to determine the ecological conditions of Seattle's shorelines. We determined that this would be the most efficient method of getting the needed information. Unfortunately this process has taken several months longer than planned due to changes in the model that were needed to accommodate data availability and to accommodate the different conditions found in Seattle compared to King County. We have been making steady progress and we are confident that we will have the characterization work completed within the next month. We are also confident that the results of the model will be accurate and will provide us with the shoreline baseline conditions needed for us to move forward with our work. The results from this characterization work are the essential building blocks for developing the regulations for Seattle's shoreline and for meeting the other requirements of Ecology's guidelines including the restoration plan. |
In the second SMP Citizen's Advisory Committee meeting, Eleanore Baxendale, from the City Attorney's office, presented a review of the legal definition of the standard that there be "no net loss" to the environment from the implemntation of a revised SMP.
Committee staff Margaret Glowacki subsequently sent the following background information to the committee:
Protect case:
Swinomish Indian Tribal Community v. Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board, 161 Wn.2d 415, 427-430, 166 P.3d 1198 (2007).
Link to Attorney General's Guidelines on Takings:
http://www.atg.wa.gov/uploadedFiles/Home/About_the_Office/Takings/2006%20AGO%20Takings%20Guidance.pdf
Link to Ecology's guidance on "No Net Loss"
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0406020.html
Meeting 2
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Visioning Process, Inventory and Characterization,
Environmental Designations
Notes:
The CAC Staff presented an overview of the "visioning" process, whichis one of the first steps in the SMP Revision. See the "Visioning process presentation"and the "Draft vision report," below.
This meeting of the CAC heard a report from the City Attorney's office on what constitutes legally "taking" of private property for public purposes.
The meeting also heard a presentation of how current land-use designations compare to those proposed for the new SMP Revision. See "Shoreline characterization & environments presentation."
Meeting documents:
Visioning process presentation (PDF 656 KB)
Revised charter (PDF 36.7 KB)
Revised schedule (PDF 32.7 KB)
Revised work plan (PDF 24.6 KB)
Shoreline characterization & environments presentation (PDF 80.8 KB)
Draft vision report (PDF 682 KB)
The revised SMP will result in new regulations and standards for shoreline uses throughout Seattle, including Puget Sound, Elliott Bay, Duwamish River, Lake Union/Ship Canal/Portage Bay, Lake Washington and Green Lake. The Citizen Advisory Committee will help Seattle DPD develop new policy, regulations and environmental designations for the shoreline.
Most of the CAC meetings will deal with issues related in some way to houseboats (i.e. shoreline vision, environmental designations, vegetation management, water quality, views and public access, permitting process etc.). Two of the eight Advisory Committee meetings will focus on issues that are vitally important to the floating home community:
Meeting 3 - July 29, 2008: Vegetation Management, Residential Shorelines. Includes floating homes and other residential uses of shorelines in the city.
Meeting 5 - October 28: Shoreline Modifications -- This includes over water structures such as houseboats (the structure and floatation) and docks.
Meeting 7 - December 16: Non-Conforming Structures and Uses -- Many of our floating homes are non-conforming structures.
Other houseboat related issues may emerge as the SMP process develops. Stay tuned -- new information will be continuously updated on this website page.
Meeting 1
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Introductions, SMP Overview,
Review Charter and Work Plan
Notes:
This was an introductory meeting to get acquainted, receive an overerview of the SMP process, and review and revise draft materials (i.e. Committee Charter, Work Plan and schedule). Please see the links to draft meeting documents under Meeting 1 information. Finalized documents will be posted when they are released.
Meeting documents:
CAC draft work plan (PDF 52 KB)
CAC draft schedule (PDF 31.9 KB)
CAC draft charter (PDF 57.3 KB)
CAC draft agenda (PDF 14.7 KB)
Overview Presentation (PDF 679 KB)
The city has published the schedule of the Citizen's Advisory Committee. The FHA is officially represented by Bob Bowman at these meetings.
"DPD has convened a Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC), made up of a wide range of stakeholders, to provide input on the Shoreline Master Program update. Together with the public visioning process and DPD's technical analysis, the Committee will help shape policy affecting Seattle's shoreline jurisdiction. Committee meetings are open to the public and will be held in Room 4060 in Seattle Municipal Tower. Click on each meeting below to download meeting documents when they are available." -- from City of Seattle SMP Public Involvement web page
Meeting 1
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Introductions, SMP Overview,
Review Charter and Work Plan
Meeting 2
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Visioning Process, Inventory and Characterization,
Environmental Designations
Meeting 3
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Vegetation Management, Residential Shorelines
Meeting 4
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Commercial and Industrial Shorelines
Meeting 5
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Shoreline Modifications
Meeting 6
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Public Access and Views
Meeting 7
Tuesday, December, 16, 2008
Non-Conforming Structures and Uses
Meeting 8
January or February, 2009
Permitting Process
Here is a summary of the Shoreline Master Program (SMP) community meeting held last week at BF Day School. The focus of the meeting was Lake Union and the Ship Canal.
Several FHA members were at the meeting: Bill Keasler, Diana Forman, Susan & Tom Susor, Charlie Weems, Margie Freeman and Bob Bowman.
The first part of the meeting was non structured time to review results from a recently completed shoreline inventory. The analysis and inventory provided a snapshot of existing conditions and uses of the Lake Union/Ship Canal shoreline. We were invited to review the inventory data and maps and speak with the land use planners about the information. Here is the link to the inventory information presentation boards
During the second part of the meeting, Maggie Glowacki, a DPD planner, provided an overview of the SMP update process. The City of Seattle's Shoreline Master Program (SMP) is being comprehensively updated for the first time since 1987. Here is the link to her power point presentation PowerPoint presentation, and other information background sheet .
After the presentation, the community members were split into 4 groups for small group discussion. We split up to make sure FHA folks were represented in every group. Each group addressed the same five questions:
1) Public Access - where do group members experience (access) Lake Union and the Ship Canal?
2) Natural Resources - What natural or environmental features of the Lake Union/Ship Canal shoreline do we need to protect or restore?
3) Allowed Uses - How do we want to see the Lake Union/Ship Canal shoreline used?
4) Vision for the Future - What was our vision for Lake Union and the Ship Canal shorelines 25 years from now? Has the city been successful in managing Lake Union and the Ship Canal Shorelines? How will you know? What will you see or not see? What will be happening (or not happening)? What will be the same (or different)?
5) How well do you feel the Shoreline Management Act's three goals (protection of businesses and uses that depend on proximity to water; maintaining and improving public access to the water; and protecting water quality as well as fish and wildlife habitat) are being balanced in Seattle?
6 Other thoughts, comments, ideas about shorelines in other parts of Seattle?
From my group and my overhearing other group discussions several key points were made in reference to floating homes: maintain historical uses of shoreline including houseboats, maintain an active and diverse waterway, maintain and improve the ecological function of the water (i.e. protect fish and other wildlife).
