Mercer Island from the north (Luther Burbank Park in the foreground)

What is the Shoreline Master Program?
In 1972, Washington adopted its Shoreline Management Act (SMA) by public referendum to prevent the inherent harm in an uncoordinated and piecemeal development of the state's shorelines." The SMA has three broad policies:

• Encourage water-dependent uses
• Protect shoreline natural resources
• Promote public access

The City of Mercer Island is required by the Washington Shoreline Management Act (SMA) to develop and adopt a Shoreline Master Program (SMP), which includes goals, policies, and regulations consistent with state guidelines to protect shorelines.  In Mercer Island, the SMP is applicable to upland areas "shorelands" that extend 200 feet landward from the edge Lake Washington. The City's SMP must meet the new State Guidelines and the Department of Ecology must approve the City's updated SMP.


How does this affect me?
The City is currently in the process of drafting the update to the Shoreline Master Program.  The new regulations may affect those property owners adjacent to Lake Washington who wish to modify their shorelands area. These alterations could include docks, bulkheads, setbacks from the shoreline, and the placement of structures near the Lake.


Why is Mercer Island updating its Shoreline Master Program?
In 2003, the State issued a comprehensive set of guidelines addressing requirements for local Shoreline Master Programs, which are contained in Chapter 173-26 of the Washington Administrative Codes. Legislation requires that the City of Mercer Island and other municipalities update their Shoreline Master Programs to be consistent with changes to the Shoreline Management Act (SMA).


Shoreline Master Program Update Timeline: 
 

• April 25, 2011: SMP Update - Informational Session (click here for agenda bill)
• May 2, 2011: SMP Update - Public Hearing (click here for agenda bill)
• May 17, 2011: SMP Update - Existing overwater structures (click here for agenda bill)
• June 6, 2011: SMP Update - Focusing on Landward Structures, Setbacks and Landscaping (click here for agenda bill)
• June 20, 2011: SMP Update - Focusing on New Overwater Structures and Dredging (click here for agenda bill)
• August 1, 2011: SMP Update - Resolution Adoption (click here for agenda bill)

• April 15, 2009 - TOPIC: Environment Designations & General Provisions (Click here for Commission Packet)
• May 6, 2009 - TOPIC: Shoreline Use Provisions (Click here for Commission Packet)
• June 17, 2009 - TOPIC: Shoreline Modification Provisions (Click here for Commission Packet)
• July 1, 2009 - TOPIC: Shoreline Use Modification Provisions Continued (Click here for Commission Packet) and the (Addtional Meeting Items)
• July 15, 2009 - TOPIC: Shoreline Use Modification Provisions Continued (Click here for Commission Packet) and the (Addtional Meeting Items)
• August 5, 2009 - TOPIC Shoreline Use Modification Provisions Continued (Click here for Commission Packet)
• August 19, 2009 - TOPIC: Shoreline Vegetation Conservation, including setback standards (Click here for Commission Packet) and the (Addtional Meeting Items)
• September 2, 2009 - TOPIC: Shoreline Vegetation Conservation, including setback standards (Carried over from the August 19, 2009 meeting) (Click here for Commission Packet) and the (Addtional Meeting Items)
• September 16, 2009 - TOPIC: Shoreline Vegetation Conservation, including setback standards (Carried over from the Septebmer 2, 2009 meeting) (Click here for Commission Packet) and the (Addtional Meeting Items)
• October 7, 2009 - TOPIC: Environment Designations (Click here for Commission Packet) and the (Addtional Meeting Items)
• October 21, 2009 - TOPIC: Environment Designations and Shoreline Uses (Click here for Commission Packet) and the (Addtional Meeting Items)
• November 4, 2009 - TOPIC: Shoreline Uses (Click here for Commission Packet) and the (Addtional Meeting Items)
• December 16, 2009 - TOPIC: Shoreline Uses CANCELLED
• January 20, 2010 - TOPIC: Shoreline Uses (Click here for Commission Packet) and the (Addtional Meeting Items)
• February 17, 2010 - TOPIC: Review of Draft Shoreline Master Program (Click here for Commission Packet)
• March 3, 2010 - TOPIC: Review of Preliminary Draft Shoreline Master Program (Click here for Commission Paket) and the (Addtional Meeting Items)
• March 17, 2010 - TOPIC: Review of Preliminary Draft Shoreline Master Program (Click here for Commission Packet) and the (Addtional Meeting Items)
• April 7, 2010 - MEETING CANCELED
• April 21, 2010 - TOPIC: Review of Preliminary Draft Shoreline Master Program (Click here for Commission Packet) and the (Addtional Meeting Items)
• May 5, 2010 - TOPIC: Open Record Hearing for a Zoning Text Amendment (file# ZTR10-001) for a proposed amendment to existing regulations related to the City of Mercer Island Shoreline Master Program (Click here for Commission Packet) and the (Addtional Meeting Items)
• May 19, 2010 - TOPIC: Shoreline Master Program update - Post Open Record Hearing discussion, and review of shoreline language in MICC 19.07, Shoreline Master Program Cumulative Impacts Analysis, and Restoration Plan (Click here for Commission Packet) and the (Addtional Meeting Items)
• June 16, 2010 - TOPIC: Shoreline Master Program update - Process review and next steps (Click here for Commission Packet) and the (Addtional Meeting Items)
• Planning Commission meetings regarding the Shoreline Master Program to resume in the fall of 2010. (Please see Memorandum to Planning Commission)
• October 20, 2010 - TOPIC: Shoreline Master Program update - Discussion (Click here for Commission Packet) and the (Addtional Meeting Items)
• November 3, 2010 - TOPIC: Shoreline Master Program update - Policy review (Click here for Commission Packet) and the (Addtional Meeting Items)
• January 5, 2011 - TOPIC: Shoreline Master Program update - Review of Authority and Purpose; General Regulations; Shoreline Map and Designations; and Shoreline Permits Administration and Procedures (Click here for Commission Packet) and the (Addtional Meeting Items)
• January 19, 2011 - TOPIC: Shoreline Master Program update - 2nd Review Authority and Purpose; 2nd Review of General Regulations; 2nd Review of Shoreline Map; 2nd Review of Shoreline Permits Administration and Procedures; Review of Shoreline Designations; Review of Shoreline Use Table (Click here for Commission Packet) and the (Addtional Meeting Items)
• February 2, 2011 - TOPIC: Shoreline Master Program update - 3rd Review of General Regulations; 2nd Review of Shoreline Designations; 2nd Review of Shoreline Use Table; Review of Shoreland Development Standards (Click here for Commission Packet) and the (Addtional Meeting Items)
• March 2, 2011 - TOPIC: Shoreline Master Program update - Review of Draft SMP Ordinance (Click here for Commission Packet) and the (Addtional Meeting Items)
• March 16, 2011 - TOPIC: Shoreline Master Program update - Open Record Public Hearing (Click here for Commission Packet) and the (Addtional Meeting Items)
• April 6, 2011 - TOPIC: Shoreline Master Program update - Review of Planning Commission Requested Revisions; Final Review of Draft Shoreline Master Program; Planning Commission Attendance at City Council (Click here for Commission Packet) and the (Addtional Meeting Items)

When will I have an opportunity to comment on the Shoreline Master Program?

There are many opportunities to share your opinion and/or comments on the Shoreline Master Program:

• A Public Hearing by the Planning Commission occurred on March 16, 2011 at 7:00 pm in the City Hall Council Chambers (9611 SE 36th Street, Mercer Island, WA)
• A Public Hearing by the Planning Commission occurred on May 5, 2010 at 7:00 pm in the City Hall Council Chambers (9611 SE 36th Street, Mercer Island, WA)
• An open house occurred on May 19, 2009 from 6:00pm - 8:30pm at the Mercer Island Community Center at Mercer View, located at 8236 SE 24th Street.
• During the Planning Commission Meetings (please see schedule above), the Commission has included time in its agendas to allow for the public to speak about issues of concern.

There will be additional opportunities for the public to be involved throughout the update process, including a public hearing before the City Council.

If you have any questions, please contact Travis Saunders, Project Manager, at 206-275-7717 or email travis.saunders@mercergov.org

If you would like to receive notices throughout the SMP process, please email your name and mailing address to: smp@mercergov.org