The last meeting at planning commission on shoreline regulation changes is Wednesday, August 29. Now is your chance to hear what is going on with shoreline regulation changes and provide input at the planning commission level. So far, public attendance has been less than anticipated.

COUNTY OF PIERCE
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETINGS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
Pierce County Shoreline Regulations Update

The Pierce County Planning Commission will review the proposed amendments to the Pierce County Shoreline Master Program (SMP) and related Pierce County Codes. The State Shoreline Management Act was legislated in the early 1970s as a result of a citizen’s initiative and subsequent actions of the State legislature. The SMP applies to the water bodies and the adjacent 200 feet landward of the marine waters and the major rivers, streams, and lakes in unincorporated Pierce County. Pierce County has not substantially changed the SMP since the policies were locally adopted in 1974 and the regulations in 1975.

The State legislature has required all local governments to update the SMPs to take into account changes to the natural environment and current state law. The proposal is intended to comply with requirements of the State’s Shoreline Management Act (Chapter 90.58 RCW) and State guidelines for updating SMPs found in Chapter 173-26 of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC). Amendments are proposed in Chapter 1.22.080 – Hearing Examiner Code, and the following Development Regulations: Title 18 – General Provisions, Title 18A – Zoning, Title 18E – Critical Areas, Title 18J – Design
Standards and Guidelines. Title 18S, Development Regulations – Shorelines is a proposed as a new title. Title 20 – Shoreline Regulations would be repealed.
Contact: Debby Hyde, Special Projects Coordinator, (253) 798-3736
The Planning Commission anticipates presentations and testimony related to specific issues as follows. All meetings are at 6:30 p.m.

Hearing locations and topics are listed below.
August 29 – Pierce County Annex, 2401 S. 35th St, Tacoma
Final consideration and recommendations. No public testimony is anticipated.

Friends of Pierce County noted, “It is our understanding that testimony will be allowed after speaking with staff.”

Questions about procedure may be referred to Planning and Land Services at 2401 So. 35th Street, Tacoma, WA 98409 or by contacting Toni Fairbanks, Commission Clerk, at tfairba@co.pierce.wa.us or 253-798-7156.