The Washington Department of Ecology is asking for public comment on whether to approve a recently updated program to manage 6 miles of marine and lake shoreline within the city of Edmonds.
The updated shoreline master program would guide construction and development on the city’s Puget Sound and Lake Ballinger shorelines. Once approved by Ecology, the Edmonds shoreline program will become part of the overall state shoreline master program.
The shoreline program is designed to protect the shoreline environment, reserve appropriate areas for water-oriented uses, and protect people’s access to public land and waters.
It would:
– Establish unique environmental designations for different types of shorelines, with buffers and setbacks tailored to reflect existing land uses and ecological conditions;
– Increase protection of near-shore habitats and encourage preservation of existing shoreline vegetation;
– Recognize existing public access in city parks and help guide development of future public access amenities;
– Incorporate existing regulations for critical areas, including mitigation requirements and wetlands and habitat protection;
– Help support the broader initiative to protect and restore Puget Sound.
Comments will be accepted through 5 p.m., March 27, 2015.
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