Olympia’s New Shoreline Master Program Is In Effect
A seven-year effort concluded this week with an announcement that the Washington Department of Ecology had approved the City of Olympia’s proposed update of its Shoreline Master Program. Commonly known as the ‘SMP,’ this document governs the major water bodies of Olympia and the adjacent lands. Effective Thursday, October 8, it sets forth the city’s policies, regulations and a set of restoration projects for Budd Inlet, as well as the larger lakes and streams of Olympia.
According to Keith Stahley, Director of Olympia’s Department of Community Planning and Development, “Ecology’s approval of the City Council’s proposal represents the fulfillment of countless hours of effort by hundreds of committed citizens of Olympia. The public interest in our shorelines demonstrated over the last seven years has been extraordinary. We look forward to acting on the community’s vision.”
Local shoreline programs are governed by Washington’s Shoreline Management Act and must be approved by the State. Olympia’s new Shoreline Program comprehensively updates a Program that was substantially unchanged for over twenty years. Copies of Olympia’s new Shoreline Program are available at city hall, and will soon be posted on the City’s website, olympiawa.gov.
