Pierce County Shoreline Master Program: Locally Initiated Amendment
Public comment requested Feb. 10 - March 13, 2025, at 5 p.m.
We are seeking public comment on a locally initiated amendment of Pierce County’s shoreline master program (SMP).
Please provide your comments on Pierce County’s proposed amendment to its SMP by 5 p.m., March 13, 2025.
The locally initiated amendment was adopted by Pierce County Council on Dec.10, 2024. The amendment is intended to align the SMP with recent and concurrent updates to the county’s critical areas regulations. The county adopted an updated critical areas ordinance (CAO) on Dec. 3, 2024. The proposed SMP amendment incorporates by reference this new CAO for application in shoreline jurisdiction.
Please note that we previously held a state comment period for this amendment in the fall 2024 in coordination with the county under the joint review process (WAC 173-26-104). After that, significant changes were made to the amendment by the Pierce County Council prior to local adoption, and we shifted to the standard review process (WAC 173-26-100). To ensure sufficient opportunity for public review of the amendment pursuant to WAC 173-26-120, we are now holding a second 30-day comment period.
Pierce County's proposed SMP amendment will be reviewed against the requirements of the Shoreline Management Act and the Shoreline Master Program Guidelines. Based on our review, we will decide whether to:
- Approve the program as is.
- Approve with recommended changes.
- Send the proposed program back to the city with required changes to meet statutory and rule requirements. Recommended changes may also be included with the required changes.
Public comment period
Opens: Feb. 10, 2025
Closes: March 13, 2025
All interested parties are invited to provide comment during this public comment period. There are several ways to provide comments. You only need to submit your comments once.
Submit written comments:
Online via the E-Comment Form; or
By Mail:
Tess Brandon
Washington State Department of Ecology
Southwest Regional Office
PO Box 47775
Olympia, WA 98504-7775
Questions: Tess.Brandon@ecy.wa.gov or 360-407-6520
Comments must be received no later than March 13, 2025 at 5 p.m.
Documents for public review and comment
Note: all documents are PDF
- Locally adopted SMP amendment
- Signed Ordinance No. 02024-570s
- Exhibit A: SMP amendment
- Exhibit B: Finding of Fact
- Updated Critical Areas Ordinance (Ordinance No. 02024-553s2)
- Background documents
Paper copies are available for review by appointment at the following location:
Tess Brandon
Washington Department of Ecology
Southwest Regional Office
300 Desmond Drive SE
Lacey, WA 98503
Tess.Brandon@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-6520
Next steps: response to public comment and decision
A summary of comments will be posted here a few weeks after the comment period closes. We will also post the county’s response to comments and a notice of our decision when they become available. Please check back.