Bothell shoreline master program: locally initiated amendment
Public comment requested - April 14 through May 16, 2025
We are seeking public comment on the City of Bothell’s proposed amendment to its shoreline master program. Key amendment elements include:
- Update to reflect 2020 Federal Emergency Management Agency amendments for floodplains. Remove redundant floodplain regulations and replace with references to the recently updated critical areas ordinance.
- Update wetland buffer width modification and impact minimization criteria to align with our 2022 Draft Wetland Guidance for Critical Areas Ordinance Updates.
- Clarify shoreline prohibition and variance requirements and process per hearing examiner recommendations.
We will compare Bothell's proposed SMP to the requirements of the Shoreline Management Act and the Shoreline Master Program Guidelines. Based on the comparison, we will decide whether to:
- Approve the shoreline master program as is.
- Approve with recommended changes.
- Send the proposed shoreline master 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: 5 a.m. April 14, 2025
Closes: 5 p.m. May 16, 2025.
All interested parties are invited to provide comment during this public comment period. You only need to submit your comments once.
Submit written comments and questions to:
Matthew Evinger
Washington State Department of Ecology
Northwest Regional Office
15700 Dayton Ave. N.
Shoreline, WA 98133
Matthew.Evinger@ecy.wa.gov
206-743-6606
Comments must be received no later that 5 p.m. May 16, 2025.
Documents for public review and comment
Note: all documents are PDFs
- Locally adopted SMP
- Background documents
Paper copies are available for review, by appointment only, at the following locations:
Katarina Wells
Washington Department of Ecology
Northwest Regional Office
15700 Dayton Ave. N.
Shoreline, WA 98133
Katarina.Wells@ecy.wa.gov
206-406-9931
Megan Rigney, Community Development Planner
City of Bothell
Community Development Department
18415 101st Ave. NE
Bothell, WA 98011
Megan.Rigney@bothellwa.gov
425-419-7213
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 Bothell’s response to comments and a notice of our decision when they become available. Please check back.