San Juan County Shoreline Master Program
On Oct. 16, 2017, we approved San Juan County’s Shoreline Master Program (SMP) comprehensive update. Under the state Shoreline Management Act, San Juan County's shoreline program takes effect Oct. 30, 2017.
The comprehensive update revises the existing shoreline program that includes protecting critical areas within shoreline jurisdiction, adding new non-conforming use and development language, and re-designating and adding new shoreline area designations. The update also revises San Juan County's existing SMP including the goals, policies, regulations, definitions and administrative procedures. This approval puts the final stamp on a significant effort that increases protection and restoration of habitat and water quality, provides more certainty for development, and improves public access and recreational opportunities.
On April 5, 2017, we provided San Juan County with recommended changes to the county’s proposed comprehensive update of their Shoreline Master Program (SMP). The recommend changes were based on our review of whether or not the proposed update complies with the state laws and rules. A public comment period was held from July 22 through Sept. 2, 2016.
Mail and e-mail were used to notify interested parties about the public comment period and we received over 50 comments focused on a wide variety of topics. On Sept. 28, 2016, we sent a summary of comments to the county for their response. The public comments and county responses have been incorporated into a Responsiveness Summary.
Documents related to approval
Note: All documents are PDF
- Director of Ecology's October 16, 2017 final approval letter
- San Juan County’s letter regarding recommended changes
- Director of Ecology's April 5, 2017 letter
- Attachment A: Findings and Conclusions for Proposed Amendments
- Attachment B: Recommended Changes
- Responsiveness Summary
Locally adopted SMP
- Submittal Letter
- Ordinance Section Guide
- San Juan County Ordinance No. 01-2016
- Exhibit A: SMP Goals and Policies
- Exhibit B: Lopez Map
- Exhibit B: Orcas Map
- Exhibit B: San Juan Map
- Exhibit C: Restoration Plan
- Exhibit D: Non-Parcel Map Points
- San Juan County CAO
Background documents
- Inventory and Characterization
- Appendix A: Map Folio
- Map 1: Context Map Extents Key & Table of Contents
- Map 2: Proposed Shoreline Jurisdiction
- Map 3: Land Ownership
- Map 4: Existing Land Use Districts & Environment Designations
- Map 5: Current Land Use
- Map 6: Marine Shoreline Public Access
- Map 7: Priority Trail Corridors
- Map 8: Surface Water System
- Map 9: Shoreline Modifications
- Map 10: Septic Systems
- Map 11: Water Quality
- Map 12: Floodplains & Wetlands
- Map 13: Marine Net Shore Drift & Feeder Bluffs
- Map 14: Shoreforms - PSNERP
- Map 15: Geologic Units
- Map 16: Soils
- Map 17: Geologic Hazards
- Map 18: Liquefaction Susceptibility
- Map 19: Land Cover
- Map 20: Impervious Surfaces
- Map 21: Ecology Permitted Sites
- Map 22: Habitats & Species - Regions
- Map 23: Habitats Species - Aquatic Vegetation
- Map 24: Habitats Species - Birds & Mammals
- Map 25: Habitats Species - Fish
- Map 26: Habitats Species - Shellfish
- Map 27: Fish Presence Probability - Juvenile Chinook Salmon
- Map 28: Fish Presence Probability - Juvenile Chum
- Map 29: Fish Presence Probability - Juvenile Pink Salmon
- Map 30: Fish Presence Probability - Juvenile Lingcod and Greenling
- Map 31: Fish Presence Probability - Juvenile Surf Smelt
- Map 32: Fish Presence Probability - Juvenile Pacific Sand Lance
- Map 33: Fish Presence Probability - Juvenile Pacific Herring
- Map 34: Shoreline Types & Armoring
- Map 35: “Vacant” Shoreline Parcels
- Map 36: Parcels with Potential Nonconforming Shore Structures
- Map 37: Management Areas & Reaches
- Map 38: Ecological Function - Physical
- Map 39: Ecological Function - Habitat
- Map 40: Streams - Wild Fish Conservancy
- Map 41: Feeder Bluff, Pocket Beaches, & Armoring
- Appendix B: Priority Habitats and Species
- Appendix C: San Juan County Land Capacity Analysis Methodology
- Appendix D: Key Data Sources for Shoreline Inventory Maps
- Appendix E: GIS Methods for Ecological Function Scoring
- Appendix A: Map Folio
- Cumulative Impacts Analysis
- SMP Designation Amendment List
- Shoreline Map Book
If you have trouble accessing documents, please contact Chad Yunge.
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 Journal of the San Juan Islands and the Islands’ Sounder legal ads on October 25, 2017.
Related links
Contact information
Chad Yunge
Shoreline Planner
chad.yunge@ecy.wa.gov
360-715-5206