Port Townsend shoreline master program: periodic review
Public comment requested April 6 to May 6, 2026, at 5 p.m.
We are seeking public comment on the city of Port Townsend’s proposed periodic review amendment to its shoreline master program (SMP).
The proposed amendment is needed to comply with the statutory requirement for a periodic review of the Port Townsend SMP pursuant to RCW 90.58.080(4). Port Townsend has reviewed their SMP and has proposed amendments that will bring the SMP into compliance with requirements of the Shoreline Management Act and state rules, ensure consistency with local plans and programs, and reflect changes in circumstances, new information, and improved data.
The city is proposing a broad range of mandated and optional, substantive and clerical revisions throughout the document, such as:
- Substantial development cost threshold, ADA retrofit permit exemption, definitions, SMP applicability, aquaculture, wetlands protections, and transportation project review.
- Permit process streamlining to meet timeline requirements, downtown building height standards, transient accommodations (hotel/motel), boating facilities, critical areas protections, reconstruction of nonconforming residences and historic structures, ground floor residential within commercial buildings, shoreline stabilization, flood control structures, and sea level rise adaptation strategies for public access and water-dependent development.
- Minor, housekeeping edits to simplify language, remove redundant and obsolete policies and appendices, improve readability, and ensure both internal and external consistency with related plans, programs, an agencies.
The SMP applies to approximately 8 miles of shorelines along the marine waters of Strait of Juan de Fuca, Admiralty Inlet, and Port Townsend Bay, plus two freshwater lakes: Chinese Gardens and Kah Tai Lagoon. Jurisdictional areas seaward of extreme low tide are considered shorelines of statewide significance.
Port Townsend’s SMP comprehensive update was completed in 2007 followed by limited, locally initiated amendments approved in 2008, 2012, and 2018. This SMP periodic review effort began in 2020 and was due in 2021. City staffing challenges put this project on hold until the effort was rebooted in 2025.
Port Townend started the periodic review using the optional joint review process (WAC 173-26-104), but the extended timeline and project scope necessitated a shift back to the standard review process for SMP amendments, pursuant to WAC 173-26-100. Port Townsend locally approved this amendment on June 16, 2025. We determined their submittal to be complete on March 5, 2026.
Following the comment period, we will compare Port Townsend's proposed amendment 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 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: April 6, 2026
Closes: May 6, 2026, at 5 p.m.
Interested parties are invited to provide comment during the public comment period. There are several ways to provide comments. You only need to submit your comments once.
Submit written comments and questions to
Online via the E-Comments Form
By Mail:
Michelle McConnell
Washington Department of Ecology
Southwest Regional Office
PO Box 47775
Olympia, WA 98504-7775
Street address: 300 Desmond Drive, Lacey, WA 98503
Questions:
Michelle.Mcconnell@ecy.wa.gov
360-701-5262
Comments must be received no later than May 6, 2026, at 5 p.m.
Documents for public review and comment
Note: all documents are pdf
- Locally Approved SMP
- Background Documents
Paper copies are available for review by appointment at the following location:
Washington Department of Ecology
Southwest Regional Office
300 Desmond Drive
Lacey, WA 98503
Email: Michelle.Mcconnell@ecy.wa.gov
Phone: 360-701-5262
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 City of Port Townsend response to comments and a notice of our decision when they become available. Please check back.