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Jefferson County has spent the past several years updating its Shoreline Master Program (SMP), as required by the Shoreline Management Act. In doing so, the county has made the unfortunate choice of significantly increasing restrictions on the use and enjoyment of private property located on the county's shorelines. This unfairly burdens the regulated community, and carries the very real threat of reduced property values and greater control over the lives of Jefferson County citizens.
Here in Washington, shorelines of the state include all shorelines bordering salt water, as well as the shores of rivers, large creeks, and lakes. If you own one or more parcels that includes such a shoreline, you are about to face a significantly greater regulatory burden than you do today.
The provisions of the locally approved SMP update severely restrict your building, landscaping, and other activities in the 150 feet of your property immediately adjacent to the shore. Existing structures, including your home, that extend into that portion of your property become "legal nonconforming" uses. This means that the structure is still legal, but that it does not conform with the regulatory provisions of the Shoreline Master Program. This may result in financing difficulties if you wish to refinance or sell your home to a buyer who needs financing to close the deal. It may also be harder to find homeowner's insurance.
The update also designates 41% of Jefferson County's shorelines as "Natural", where after an arduous permitting process, you will be allowed to disturb a maximum of 2,500 square feet of the property to build a home. An additional 29% of the county's shorelines will be designated with "Conservation" status, where you can build a home, but most other uses require a conditional use permit. You will only be allowed to remove 20% of the shoreline vegetation for a view, and you will be required to retain 75% of the existing native vegetation.
All shoreline activities must comply with the provisions of the SMP, whether the activity requires a permit or not.
The Board of County Commissioners deliberated on and locally approved the SMP update on December 7, 2009. During the process leading up to adoption, the Olympic Stewardship's review team identified numerous significant errors and other serious problems. The issues we noted are so egregious that we reluctantly decided we needed to retain the services of a highly respected land use attorney with particular expertise in shoreline regulatory issues. Our attorney has now been working closely with us for several years on this project.
The locally approved document was sent to the Department of Ecology for review, and returned with several items targeted for required or recommended modification. The modification process is not yet complete, and the locally approved SMP update is not in effect.
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Here in Washington, shorelines of the state include all shorelines bordering salt water, as well as the shores of rivers, large creeks, and lakes. If you own one or more parcels that includes such a shoreline, you are about to face a significantly greater regulatory burden than you do today.
The provisions of the locally approved SMP update severely restrict your building, landscaping, and other activities in the 150 feet of your property immediately adjacent to the shore. Existing structures, including your home, that extend into that portion of your property become "legal nonconforming" uses. This means that the structure is still legal, but that it does not conform with the regulatory provisions of the Shoreline Master Program. This may result in financing difficulties if you wish to refinance or sell your home to a buyer who needs financing to close the deal. It may also be harder to find homeowner's insurance.
The update also designates 41% of Jefferson County's shorelines as "Natural", where after an arduous permitting process, you will be allowed to disturb a maximum of 2,500 square feet of the property to build a home. An additional 29% of the county's shorelines will be designated with "Conservation" status, where you can build a home, but most other uses require a conditional use permit. You will only be allowed to remove 20% of the shoreline vegetation for a view, and you will be required to retain 75% of the existing native vegetation.
All shoreline activities must comply with the provisions of the SMP, whether the activity requires a permit or not.
The Board of County Commissioners deliberated on and locally approved the SMP update on December 7, 2009. During the process leading up to adoption, the Olympic Stewardship's review team identified numerous significant errors and other serious problems. The issues we noted are so egregious that we reluctantly decided we needed to retain the services of a highly respected land use attorney with particular expertise in shoreline regulatory issues. Our attorney has now been working closely with us for several years on this project.
The locally approved document was sent to the Department of Ecology for review, and returned with several items targeted for required or recommended modification. The modification process is not yet complete, and the locally approved SMP update is not in effect.
Like Us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/olysteward