Shoreline Master Program UpdateCity of Olympia

Shoreline Master Program Update

February 24, 2010

Why Plan for Shorelines?

• Shoreline Management Act approved by voters in the early 1970’s to:– Encourage water-dependent uses– Protect shoreline natural resources– Promote public access

• Cities and counties must adoptlocal ‘Shoreline Master Programs’– Consistent with statute and administrative rules

• New shoreline guidelines adopted in 2003– Establishes scope for SMP update

Existing Plans

• Thurston Region SMP– First adopted in 1976– Multiple updates

• Special Area ManagementPlans – Percival Creek -- 1990 – Urban Waterfront -- 1993

What’s Happening?

• 2007 – State funding for joint planning effort for Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater – Coordinated by Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC)– Technical advisory group

• 2007 – 2009 activities – Inventory and characterization– Shoreline designations– Cumulative impact analysis– Develop restoration and public access plans– Public outreach – Develop draft policies and regulations

• Cities and counties must update their Shoreline Master Programs

What’s Happening? TRPC Reports

What’s Happening?

• July 2009 – Model SMP handed over to cities– Serves as a starting point for Olympia’s

update – Will be refined to address issues that

are unique to Olympia

• September 2010 – Goal for City Council adoption

What’s Next?

• January – February : Public outreach• March – April: ‘Rewrite’• Planning Commission meetings

– Subcommittee meetings: • March – April

– Planning Commission meetings:• April 19, May 3, May 17

• May: Release draft for public comment– Public Workshops

• June: Planning Commission public hearing(s)

• July – August: Revisions • September: City Council action

– Submit SMP to Ecology

Who’s Involved?

• Citizens, tribe, public agencies, interest groups• City staff • Planning Commission

– Subcommittee

• City Council• Department of Ecology

– Partner with City during update process– Review SMP after Council action – Final approval

Key Issues in SMP Update

• No net loss • Restoration• Sea Level Rise• Building heights • Bulkheads• Park and trail uses• Nonconforming uses/structures• Integration of Percival and Urban Waterfront Plans• Integration with Comprehensive Plan update• Critical Area Regulations within shorelines• Coordination with other jurisdictions• Tribal interests• Port uses

Shoreline Designations

• Purpose– Encourage uses that protect or enhance the

current or desired character of the shoreline.

• Ecology established new designations:– Aquatic– Natural– Urban Conservancy– Shoreline Residential– High Intensity

• TRPC-proposed designations…..

• Aquatic – Waterward of ordinary high water mark– Protect, restore, and manage aquatic areas

Shoreline Designations – Criteria/Purpose

Shoreline Designations – Criteria/Purpose

• Natural– NRCA, federal, or state wildlife refuge, or unique environment retaining high quality and high value

habitat– Protect areas relatively

free of human influence– Permit only low intensity

uses

• Urban Conservancy– Zoned for open space or has a high proportion of

undevelopable lands such as wetlands, steep slopes or large parks

– Protect and restore ecological functions in urban/developed settings while allowing

compatible uses

Shoreline Designations – Criteria/Purpose

• Residential – Zoned for residential uses and land is currently predominantly residential or developable land– Accommodate residential development; provide for public access and recreational uses

Shoreline Designations – Criteria/Purpose

• High Intensity – Zoned for mixed use, commercial or industrial uses, and land is currently developed, developable, or redevelopable– Provide for high intensity water- oriented uses while protecting existing ecological functions

Shoreline Designations – Criteria/Purpose

Budd Inlet

• Shoreline characterized by a mix of residential, commercial, and industrial uses

• Some intact riparian systems

Budd Inlet: Budd-1 and 2 Reaches

• Existing: Rural

• Proposed: Urban Conservancy

• County to determine designation

Budd Inlet: Budd-3 Reach

• Existing: Rural

• Proposed: High Intensity

Budd Inlet: Budd-4 Reach

• Existing: Urban

• Proposed: High Intensity

Budd Inlet: Budd-5 Reach

• Existing: Urban

• Proposed: High Intensity

Budd Inlet: Budd-6A Reach

• Existing: Urban

• Proposed: High Intensity

Budd Inlet: Budd-6B Reach

• Existing: Urban

• Proposed: Shoreline Residential

Budd Inlet: Budd-7 Reach

• Existing: Urban

• Proposed: Shoreline Residential

Budd Inlet: Budd-8A Reach

• Existing: Conservancy

• Proposed: Urban Conservancy

Budd Inlet: Budd-8B Reach

• Existing: Conservancy

• Proposed: Natural

Capitol Lake

• Characterized by intact wetlands and riparian areas, steep slopes, public parks

• Some highly modified shoreline

Capitol Lake: Cap-1 Reach

• Existing: Conservancy

• Proposed: Urban Conservancy

Capitol Lake: Cap-3A Reach

• Existing: Conservancy

• Proposed: Urban Conservancy

Capitol Lake: Cap-3B Reach

• Existing: Conservancy

• Proposed: High Intensity

Capitol Lake: Cap-4 Reach

• Existing: Conservancy

• Proposed: Urban Conservancy

Capitol Lake: Cap-5 Reach

• Existing: Conservancy

• Proposed: Urban Conservancy

Capitol Lake: Cap-6 Reach

• Existing: Conservancy

• Proposed: High Intensity Percival Cove

Capitol Lake: Cap-7 Reach

• Existing: Conservancy

• Proposed: Urban Conservancy Percival Cove

• TRPC Proposal:– Budd Inlet Residential Setbacks

• Existing – 20’• Proposed – 25’

– Capitol Lake Residential Setbacks• Existing - 100’ • Proposed

– High Intensity – 15’– Urban Conservancy – 100’

– Budd Inlet Commercial/Industrial Setbacks• Existing – based on zoning• Proposed – 0’ if water dependent, 15’ if water related or

non-water oriented

Setbacks

• TRPC Proposal:– Residential

• Capped at 35 feet

– Commercial/Industrial• 42’ within first 100’• 70’ within remainder

• City Proposal– Not yet developed

.

Building Heights

Shoreline Jurisdiction

42’ height

70’ height

Critical Areas

• SMP must provide for management of critical areas

• TRPC Recommendation– Incorporate CAO by reference

into SMP

• City approach not yet determined

Restoration Plan

• SMP to include restoration plan– Reestablish or upgrade

impaired shoreline ecological functions or processes

• Draft plan prepared by TRPC– Identifies degraded areas– Establishes restoration goals

and policies – Identifies existing and on-

going projects– Identify new projects and

programs– Addresses implementation

• Existing resources for public access:– West Bay Park– Percival Landing– Heritage Park– Marathon Park – Priest Point Park– East Bay Trail/Park

Public Access

Resources and Contact Info

Web Links

www.imagineolympia.com

http://trpc.org/programs/environment/water/smpupdates

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/sma/ index.html

City Contact:

Cari Hornbein, Senior Planner360-753-8048shorelineupdate@ci.olympia.wa.us

QUESTIONS?

• Downtown– 65’ with residential bonus (2

stories)

• Port Peninsula– Ranges from 40’ – 65’

• Capitol Lake– 35’

• West Bay– 42’with height bonus to 65’

Building Heights – Current zoning

Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) is an intergovernmental board made up of local government jurisdictions within Thurston County in Washington State. The Council develops regional plans and policies for transportation, growth management, environmental quality and other topics. TRPC also acts as a regional clearinghouse for planning and demographic information and data.