City Council approves the Shoreline Master Plan Update after 10 years of study.

UPDATED, 9/15:  The Shoreline Master Program consists of policies and standards that regulate land uses and development located approximately 200 feet within Bear Creek, Evans Creek, Lake Sammamish, and the Sammamish River, and includes some of these waterbodies’ associated wetlands and floodplains.   An update to the old Master Plan has been in the works for over 10 years.   At tonight's meeting, Council reviewed final edits by the State Department of Ecology and approved the D.O.E. edits.  The Update was approved on 9/15, 5-1 with Mr. Cole dissenting.  Kim Allen was absent.  

The Principal Planner Cathy Beam received rave reviews by the Council for her long and hard work completing the Shoreline Master Plan Update.   Mr. Carson spoke highly of the significant public involvment generated by this Update.   Councilmember Allen, a Hearing Examiner in Kitsap County, thought Redmond's Update was one of the best she's seen.  Most of my personal field work and input was directed towards preserving and maintaining the high intensity Evans Creek industrial riparian buffer. It is at best only 50 feet.

Some of the changes made by Washington State Department of Ecology can be found within the following paragraphs:  

• “In any High Intensity/Multi-Use location within a buffer where the land is actively being used as part of a legitimate business operation, such land including either structures or active operational areas, established prior January 1, 2008  may continue to operate. New structures, pavement, and other improvements are permitted within this area so long as incremental environemtal benefits is provided and no net loss of shoreline ecological functions is demonstrate

• The Washington Department of Ecology added this paragraph:   “Use the City’s established permit tracking program to periodically evaluate the effectiveness of the Shoreline Master Program update for achieving no net loss of shoreline ecological functions with respect to shoreline permitting and exemptions. Prepare an evaluation report every seven years when the SMP is required to be updated under RCW 90.58.080(4).”

View the entire list of changes made by the Washington State Department of Ecology here.
 
Redmond Shorelines are dynamic and changing.   Bear Creek is being relocated right now to make way for SR520.  The city plans to relocate Evans Creek north and away from the Industrial District within the near future. (5-10 years).   Evans Creek is salmon bearing.  With this in mind, the city and citizens will have to be attentive to incremental land use on the Evans buffer.