Sammamish shoreline master program: locally initiated amendment

On April 28, 2026, we provided the city with one required change to the city’s proposed locally initiated amendment to their SMP. The city accepted our required change and incorporated it into their SMP. The change is based on our review of whether the amendment complies with state laws and rules, and a public comment period held Nov. 12 to Dec. 13, 2025.

Email notices were used to notify interested parties of the public comment period.

One comment letter, from the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, was received during the state comment period. The comment letter encouraged the city to prioritize the protection of the natural shoreline and to promote more sustainable management of existing public access. The Tribe urged the city to incorporate stronger language and stronger environmental protections into the SMP and suggested that the city needed to more clearly state the trade-offs between increasing public access and protecting the environment, including loss of habitat quality and refugia for wildlife. In accordance with WAC 173-26-120(2)(e), Ecology summarized the Tribe’s comments and sent them to the city for formal response on December 29, 2025. The city responded on January 26, 2026, with substantive responses to each of the comments. The city did not propose any new changes to the SMP in response to comments received, concluding that no further modifications were needed at this time.

The locally initiated amendment will bring the existing shoreline program into compliance with changes to state law, ensure consistency with the city’s Comprehensive Plan and development regulations, and reflect changes in circumstances, new information, and improved data.  

Documents related to approval

Note: all documents are PDF

• Ecology's May 7, 2025, final approval letter
• City's May 5, 2026, letter accepting change
• Director of Ecology's April 28, 2026, letter
  • Attachment A: Findings and Conclusions
  • Attachment B: Required Change
• Locally Adopted SMP amendment
  • Ordinance No. 02025-581
  • Exhibit A: SMP Amendment
• Background Documents
  • Summary of Amendment
  • Staff Report
  • SEPA

Appeals

• Per RCW 90.58.190(2) and RCW 36.70A.290, an interested party may file an appeal with the Growth Management Hearings Board within 60 days of the publication date of our written notice of final action.

• We plan to publish the notice of final action in the Seattle Times legal ads on May 21, 2026.