State Announces Shoreline Master Program Public Hearing

The Washington State Department of Ecology is seeking public comment on updates to Mercer Island's Shoreline Master Program and is holding a Public Hearing on November 8, 2012 at the Mercer Island Community and Events Center.

The city planning commission and city council reviewed a proposed plan to update the city's plan to comply with new state regulations that changes the way Mercer Island manages its shoreline in 2011.

An "open house" starts at 6 p.m. and the Public Hearing starts at 7 p.m. For more detail on the city's review of its Shoreline Master Plan, see our previous coverage of the issue:

• Changes for Mercer Island Shoreline Regs Set For March 16 Hearing

Most of the proposed changes will affect how the city regulates the construction of new docks and piers and the repair of older ones. There are 713 parcels of residential land on Mercer Island’s waterfront, with 99 percent of these parcels developed and only 8 buildable lots remaining undeveloped. Permits for over-water construction averages about 33 shoreline permits are reviewed each year for both overwater and upland activities (from 2000-2011), and most of those permits (58.31 percent) were for pier repair, modification or replacement.

Public comment period closes on Nov. 26 at 5 p.m. Written comments can be submitted online or my surface mail before that date by sending them to Ecology planner Barbara Nightingale at: Washington State Department of Ecology, Northwest Regional Office, 3190 160th Avenue SE, Bellevue, Washington 98008-5452 or by email at Barbara.Nightingale@ecy.wa.gov. Nightengale can also be reached by phone at (425) 649-4309

After the public comment period closes, Mercer Island city planners will issue a response to the comment and then Ecology offer the city feedback and issue their final set of required changes and recommendations to City Hall for adoption. Approval is expected sometime in 2013.

For further information on the City's Shoreline Master Program, please click here or contact Travis Saunders at travis.saunders@mercergov.org.City submits .
Ecology has public hearing on document. To submit written comments ahead of time or for additional details regarding the public hearing, visit the Department of Ecology Website.