Your Voice Matters:
Please take action to cut paste the comment letter provided in this message or write your own version and email it to Tess Brandon tess.brandon@ecy.wa.gov
The new SMP has been in negotiation and formation with Thurston County for MANY years. On our behalf, a Stakeholders Coalition was initially established to review each section of the draft SMP, urged revisions at open planning meetings, and narrow down public concern to those key points that affect our ability to enjoy and maintain our lakefront property. Ecology is now ready for the final review of the Thurston SMP doc.
Ecology's Public Comment period which runs through September 30th.
Open House (5:00 - 7:00 PM) and Public Hearing (7:00 PM onward)
Join in on Thursday, September 19th, at the Department of Ecology Offices.
Location — 300 Desmond Drive SE, Lacey, WA 98503 (map to location)
Mail — P.O. Box 47775, Olympia, WA 98504-7775
Tess Brandon is Ecology’s primary Shoreline Master Program point of contact. She recently shared the following in an email to John Woodford, Long Lake.
Ecology’s review process is defined in WAC 173-26-120, and mandates a state comment period of at least 30 days as well as an optional public hearing as the first step. We then consider the comments received during that step, as well as the County’s response to those comments, during our review. All of that is to say, Ecology will be at the very beginning of our formal state review at the time of the public hearing. That said, we have provided technical assistance to the County throughout the long update process, including providing several rounds of informal comments on the draft, so I am very familiar with the SMP and its history.
Assuming our review results in required and/or recommended changes to the locally adopted SMP, Ecology’s Director will issue a conditional approval to the County. Interested parties like yourself will receive notice of that decision, and our changes and associated rationale will be published on our website. That step will not occur until several months after the close of the public comment period.
I’m happy to answer any specific questions or concerns you have about the SMP and/or update process, and I encourage you and/or the organizations you represent to submit formal public comments for the record. The comment period opens August 15.
Thanks very much,
Tess
Tess Brandon, AICP | Senior Shoreline Planner
Shorelands & Environmental Assistance | Southwest Region
564.200.3016 | tess.brandon@ecy.wa.gov | she/her
John says, “We don’t really know where Ecology stands right now. We may find out more at the Open House. But, for sure, we all need to reaffirm those key points that we’ve been fighting for years and years now…buffer widths, restrictions on docks and bulkheads, “legally nonconforming” v “conforming”, a pamphlet with outlines of process and regulations plus listing of “acceptable” native plants, and much more”.
Sample Letter: Cut/paste to an email to Tess or use this as fodder to write your own.
Ms. Brandon,
I am writing to voice my appreciation for the public comments period related to the coming Ecology review of the Thurston County SMP draft document. At this time, I would like to add my voice by the Thurston County Shoreline Stakeholders Coalition to reaffirm the concerns already presented to Thurston County regarding the large expanse of developed areas on our Lakes, Rivers, and Marine Waters.
The new Thurston County SMP should recognize and differentiate regulations within areas of high residential density. Suggested concerns that have been voiced repeatedly include.
1. Keep Shoreline Residential SED buffers at 50-feet.
2. Keep our homes classified as “legally conforming” versus “non-conforming”.
3. Clearly define the permitting process in pamphlet or other print format.
4. Expand the scope of repairs to existing docks and bulkheads sans permits.
5. Provide a written list of native plants recommended for mitigation or restoration.
6. Recognize voluntary restoration in the mitigation of permits.
Long Lake specifically is nearly fully developed with residential lakefront homes and access parcels that serve some upland residential developments. Since the lake was opened to year-round use, we have seen our bulkheads and docks battered to excess and repair costs escalate. Please consider those of us who live in the shoreline areas to ensure that we also benefit by the goal of “No Net Loss”.
Thank you for hearing my concerns,
{ Your Name }
{ Your Address }
Thank you for your attention.
Susan Draper, Weed Sub-committee Chair
Long Lake Management District
(360) 402-2343 Mobile/Text line
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