The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is seeking public comment on Langley’s proposed update to its shoreline master program.
The draft shoreline program update will guide construction and development along the city’s 1.73 miles of marine shorelines.
Langley’s locally-tailored shoreline master program is designed to help minimize environmental damage to shoreline areas, reserve appropriate areas for water-dependent and oriented uses, and protect the public’s right to public land and waters.
The city’s proposed program consists of shoreline environment designations, setbacks and permitted uses tailored to reflect existing land uses and ecological conditions. It combines local plans for future development and preservation with new development ordinances and related permitting requirements.
Under Washington’s 1972 voter-approved Shoreline Management Act, Ecology must review and approve Langley’s proposed shoreline program before it takes effect. Cities and counties statewide are in the process of — or soon will be — updating or crafting their master programs.
Ecology will accept public comment on Langley’s proposed shoreline program until Sept. 20 at 5 p.m.
Langley’s proposed updated master program:
– Incorporates the city’s critical areas regulations and flood damage prevention code;
– Establishes appropriate shoreline environment designations that recognize established shoreline uses and existing intact shoreline habitat;
– Tailors unique shoreline setbacks to each shoreline environment designation;
– Manages existing and future residential development on the shoreline bluffs and accommodates existing and future water-dependent uses;
– Encourages soft-bank erosion control methods and limits construction of new shoreline armoring, such as bulkheads;
– Includes a restoration plan showing where and how voluntary improvements in water and upland areas can enhance the local shoreline environment;
– Helps support the broader initiative to protect and restore Puget Sound.
Washington’s cities and counties with regulated shorelines must update their programs by December 2014.
[mappress]
Press Release, August 19, 2013