Shoreline Master Program Review

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Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park shoreline

The City of Ellensburg is undertaking a periodic review of its Shoreline Master Program (SMP), as required by the Washington State Shoreline Management Act (SMA), RCW 90.58.080(4). The SMA requires each SMP be reviewed and revised, if needed, on an eight-year schedule established by the Legislature. The review ensures the SMP stays current with changes in laws and rules, remains consistent with other City of Ellensburg plans and regulations, and is responsive to changed circumstances, new information and improved data.

Public Participation Opportunities

The City of Ellensburg is committed to providing multiple opportunities for public participation throughout the process. The City of Ellensburg will use a variety of communication tools to inform the public and encourage their participation.

Open House

The City of Ellensburg will initiate the Periodic Review with a community open house, scheduled from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 23, 2022 in the City Council Chambers at 501 N. Anderson St., Ellensburg. The open house will review potential changes to the SMP and request public comments. Public comments received during the Open House will be posted on the Periodic Review webpage.

Notice Mailing List

An email list of interested parties will be created, advertised and maintained by the City of Ellensburg. The list will be used to notify interested parties regarding Periodic Review progress and participation opportunities. Interested parties will be added to the list by contacting the Community Development Department.

Comment

Interested parties will be encouraged to provide comments to the City of Ellensburg by letter or email. All comments will be forwarded to the Community Development Department and the Planning Commission. The Periodic Review webpage will be the central repository for information under consideration, and documents will be available for review on the website. Documents will also be available for review at City Hall in the City of Ellensburg Community Development Department, and copies will be provided at the established copying cost.


List of Stakeholders

The City of Ellensburg will engage the following stakeholders:

State Government

  • Department of Ecology
  • Department of Fish & Wildlife
  • Department of Natural Resources
  • Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation
  • WA State Parks & Recreation

Tribes and Other Government Agencies

  • Yakama Nation
  • Kittitas County
  • Kittitas Reclamation District
  • Ellensburg School District
  • Central Washington University
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Community

  • Ellensburg Residents
  • Shoreline property owners

Public Comment Periods and Hearings

The Planning Commission will conduct a public comment period and at least one public hearing to solicit input on the Periodic Review. The City of Ellensburg Planning Commission will hold one public hearing before final adoption.

The City of Ellensburg will coordinate with the Department of Ecology on public notification of comment periods and hearings to take advantage of Ecology’s optional SMP amendment process that allows for a combined state-local comment period (WAC 173-26-104).

Public notice of all hearings will state who is holding the comment period and/or hearing, the date and time, and the location of any public hearing. Notices will be published per official policy and comply with all other legal requirements such as the Americans with Disabilities Act. A notice will be sent to the email list (2.4, above) and the Department of Ecology.

Periodic Review Public Comment Period and Public Hearing

The City of Ellensburg and Washington Dept. of Ecology are accepting comments on a periodic review of the city’s shoreline master program under RCW 90.58.080(4). The city has prepared draft SMP amendments to keep the SMP current with changes in state law, changes in other city plans and regulations, and other changed local circumstances.

Public comment will be accepted from July 25, 2022 to August 24, 2022 at 5 p.m. A joint local/state public hearing is set for August 25, 2022 at 5:45 pm. Attendance can be in person at the Ellensburg City Hall 501 N Anderson St. Ellensburg, WA 98926 or via zoom. Send comments to City of Ellensburg staff member Jamey Ayling at aylingj@ci.ellensburg.wa.us. Comments sent to the city will be forwarded to the Dept. of Ecology.

Proposed amendments to the city shoreline master program are available for review at https://www.beheardeburg.com/shoreline-master-program and the City Planning Department at 501 N Anderson St. Ellensburg, WA 98926.

Public Participation Timeline

The following is a general timeline including anticipated public participation opportunities. The City of Ellensburg will coordinate with the Department of Ecology throughout the process. A detailed timeline will be posted on the Periodic Review webpage, and specific dates will be publicized via email and official notices, news media, and the website.

OngoingCity Staff may be contacted with project-related questions/concerns
Project information is available on the project webpage
June 2022Email notification sent to stakeholders
Summer 2022 Community Open House60-Day Notice of adoption to changes to SMP
Planning Commission Public Hearing
Summer-Fall 2022City Council Public Hearing
Submitted to Ecology for state approval
60-day Notice of Adoption and Appeal Period

The City of Ellensburg is undertaking a periodic review of its Shoreline Master Program (SMP), as required by the Washington State Shoreline Management Act (SMA), RCW 90.58.080(4). The SMA requires each SMP be reviewed and revised, if needed, on an eight-year schedule established by the Legislature. The review ensures the SMP stays current with changes in laws and rules, remains consistent with other City of Ellensburg plans and regulations, and is responsive to changed circumstances, new information and improved data.

Public Participation Opportunities

The City of Ellensburg is committed to providing multiple opportunities for public participation throughout the process. The City of Ellensburg will use a variety of communication tools to inform the public and encourage their participation.

Open House

The City of Ellensburg will initiate the Periodic Review with a community open house, scheduled from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 23, 2022 in the City Council Chambers at 501 N. Anderson St., Ellensburg. The open house will review potential changes to the SMP and request public comments. Public comments received during the Open House will be posted on the Periodic Review webpage.

Notice Mailing List

An email list of interested parties will be created, advertised and maintained by the City of Ellensburg. The list will be used to notify interested parties regarding Periodic Review progress and participation opportunities. Interested parties will be added to the list by contacting the Community Development Department.

Comment

Interested parties will be encouraged to provide comments to the City of Ellensburg by letter or email. All comments will be forwarded to the Community Development Department and the Planning Commission. The Periodic Review webpage will be the central repository for information under consideration, and documents will be available for review on the website. Documents will also be available for review at City Hall in the City of Ellensburg Community Development Department, and copies will be provided at the established copying cost.


List of Stakeholders

The City of Ellensburg will engage the following stakeholders:

State Government

  • Department of Ecology
  • Department of Fish & Wildlife
  • Department of Natural Resources
  • Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation
  • WA State Parks & Recreation

Tribes and Other Government Agencies

  • Yakama Nation
  • Kittitas County
  • Kittitas Reclamation District
  • Ellensburg School District
  • Central Washington University
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Community

  • Ellensburg Residents
  • Shoreline property owners

Public Comment Periods and Hearings

The Planning Commission will conduct a public comment period and at least one public hearing to solicit input on the Periodic Review. The City of Ellensburg Planning Commission will hold one public hearing before final adoption.

The City of Ellensburg will coordinate with the Department of Ecology on public notification of comment periods and hearings to take advantage of Ecology’s optional SMP amendment process that allows for a combined state-local comment period (WAC 173-26-104).

Public notice of all hearings will state who is holding the comment period and/or hearing, the date and time, and the location of any public hearing. Notices will be published per official policy and comply with all other legal requirements such as the Americans with Disabilities Act. A notice will be sent to the email list (2.4, above) and the Department of Ecology.

Periodic Review Public Comment Period and Public Hearing

The City of Ellensburg and Washington Dept. of Ecology are accepting comments on a periodic review of the city’s shoreline master program under RCW 90.58.080(4). The city has prepared draft SMP amendments to keep the SMP current with changes in state law, changes in other city plans and regulations, and other changed local circumstances.

Public comment will be accepted from July 25, 2022 to August 24, 2022 at 5 p.m. A joint local/state public hearing is set for August 25, 2022 at 5:45 pm. Attendance can be in person at the Ellensburg City Hall 501 N Anderson St. Ellensburg, WA 98926 or via zoom. Send comments to City of Ellensburg staff member Jamey Ayling at aylingj@ci.ellensburg.wa.us. Comments sent to the city will be forwarded to the Dept. of Ecology.

Proposed amendments to the city shoreline master program are available for review at https://www.beheardeburg.com/shoreline-master-program and the City Planning Department at 501 N Anderson St. Ellensburg, WA 98926.

Public Participation Timeline

The following is a general timeline including anticipated public participation opportunities. The City of Ellensburg will coordinate with the Department of Ecology throughout the process. A detailed timeline will be posted on the Periodic Review webpage, and specific dates will be publicized via email and official notices, news media, and the website.

OngoingCity Staff may be contacted with project-related questions/concerns
Project information is available on the project webpage
June 2022Email notification sent to stakeholders
Summer 2022 Community Open House60-Day Notice of adoption to changes to SMP
Planning Commission Public Hearing
Summer-Fall 2022City Council Public Hearing
Submitted to Ecology for state approval
60-day Notice of Adoption and Appeal Period