On November 29, 2011 the Tacoma City Council adopted an update of the Shoreline Master Program, including the Shoreline Restoration Plan, Public Access Alternatives Plan, and Thea Foss Waterway Design Guidelines. Applicable policy and development standards of the Foss Waterway Design and Development Plan were incorporated into the adopted SMP. City staff prepared final reports and submitted the adopted ordinance and resolutions to the State Department of Ecology, which issued a finding of a 'complete submittal' and set a 45 day public comment period between April 23rd and June 7th. On June 7, 2012 the Department of Ecology comment period officially closed. DOE staff received 34 comment letters and emails on the locally approved SMP. City staff is currently reviewing the comments. Staff expects that the Department of Ecology's final comments will be provided later this year or early spring of 2013 and that State approval will likely occur in the Summer of 2013.
The Locally Approved Shoreline Master Program documents are available below and also at the Tacoma Municipal Building, 10th floor, at 747 Market Street.
The Department of Ecology contact is Kim Van Zwalenburg, kim.vanzwalenburg@ecy.wa.gov.
The City is required to submit the final documents to the Department of Ecology for review and approval. The ordinance will not take effect until approved by DOE. There will be additional opportunities for public comment through the Department of Ecology process and notification will be provided as that information becomes available.
Concurrent with the DOE review process, staff will be initiating several shoreline related projects for the 2012 work program. As information on schedules and staff contacts become available for each of these projects they will be provided to all interested parties. These actions include:
- Development of a public access fee-in-lieu program;
- A study on the desirability and feasibility of public access options along Schuster Parkway to improve the connectivity of the Thea Foss and Ruston Way shorelines; and
- A Building Code Amendment to address Resolution 36702 by creating design standards for new residential development on the east side of the Thea Foss Waterway that will prevent impacts on industrial uses to the east of East D Street.
The Port of Tacoma is currently developing a plan to identify future opportunities to provide the public with access to the shorelines. There are several existing sites in the Tideflats that provide the community with places to enjoy the beauty of our region as well as the jobs that help sustain it. These sites include a kayak launch along Marine View Drive, a three-story observation tower on the Sitcum Waterway and a wetland habitat observation area on the Puyallup River. Please tell the Port what you think about their existing sites and share your ideas for the future by participating in a short survey.
For questions related to the Port's public access planning, please contact Kell McAboy, Senior Planner with the Port of Tacoma, at (253) 592-6217 or kmcaboy@portoftacoma.com.
A public hearing was held on the Planning Commission's recommendation on September 27th. Approximately 70 people testified at the hearing. Subsequently, the City Council Environment and Public Works and Economic Development standing committees have been meeting jointly to discuss the public testimony and potential modifications and amendments. The November 9, 2011 Weekly Report from the City Manager to the Council summarizes the modifications made to the Planning Commission's recommendation in advance of 1st Reading of Ordinance. Attached are specific pages in track change format excerpted from the Master Program. These changes have been incorporated into the ordinance that will be before Council on November 15th.
On August 17th the Planning Commission forwarded their findings and recommendations to the City Council for Council consideration. The City Council will be reviewing the Planning Commission's recommendations on September 27th at a joint Study Session, starting at noon in TMBN Room 16, with a public hearing that evening beginning at around 5:30 in City Council Chambers.
City Council Public Review Document (complete - 43MB)
Public Testimony (June 15, 2011)
Public Review Book Document (35 MB) (Individual documents are available below)
The following documents are NOT a part of the public review document, but are intended to assist in tracking changes that have been made to prior drafts and existing land use regulatory code. When providing comments please refer to the page numbers as identified in the Public Review Document above.
A preliminary draft Shoreline Master Program along with various supporting documents were distributed in September 2010 for public review. The Planning Commission reviewed those comments and provided staff with direction for draft revisions in response to the issues and concerns raised in those comments. Planning Commission adenda materials are linked below on the Public Meetings table. Public comments on the September Draft may be read at the following link:
Click here to see all the comments.
Please click here for a copy of the 2011 Schedule for Adoption.
RCW 90.58.080 establishes a schedule for local jurisdictions to adopt an updated Shoreline Master Program consistent with the WAC Guidelines. The City of Tacoma is required to adopt the updated TSMP by December 1, 2011. Upon completion of the Planning Commission process, the Commission will recommend a draft TSMP to the City Council for Council review and adoption. Upon review and adoption by the City Council, the draft will be submitted to the Department of Ecology (DOE) for review. The DOE approval process may take an additional 6 months or a year to complete and will include an additional public hearing and comment period.
In 2003, the Department of Ecology (DOE) issued new guidelines to assist local governm,ents in meeting the State requirement to conduct a comprehensive review and amendment of the Master Program for Shoreline Development. The guidelines outline procedural steps and substantive requirements that must be met. Tacoma's update to its Shoreline Master Program is an extensive overhaul of the program requiring the City to re-evaluate all shoreline policies, designations and regulations and must be based upon scientific and technical information to assue no net loss of shoreline ecological functions while providing for appropriate uses within shoreline areas.
The Tacoma Shoreline Master Program (TSMP) includes goals, policies and development regulations for all shoreline areas including Commencement Bay and its waterways, the Narrows, and Wapato Lake.
This project is closely related to and coordinated with the Thea Foss Waterway Comprehensive Review, Critical Areas Preservation Ordinance Update, Mobility Master Plan and the Open Space Habitat Management and Plan efforts.
Shoreline Master Program (1996)
Thea Foss Waterway Design and Development Concept Plan
Ruston Way Plan
Ruston Way Design Booklet
Shoreline Trails Plan
TMC 13.10 Shoreline Code
Introduction to the Shoreline Management Act
Shoreline Management Act
WAC Guidelines
SMP Handbook
Puget Sound Partnership
Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project
Washington Biodiversity Project
Washington Coastal Atlas
Commencement Bay Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration
Shoreline Armoring
Low Impact Development
Public Access and Ports
Sea Level Rise
Shoreline Restoration
Shoreline Design
| 10/11/2006 |
Technical Review Committee |
| 10/18/2006 |
Planning Commission discussion of Shoreline Update |
| 11/07/2007 |
Planning Commission discussion of Shoreline Update |
| 11/29/2007 |
Thea Foss Waterway Public Workshop |
| 12/05/2007 |
Planning Commission |
| 01/10/2008 |
Stakeholder Meeting |
| 01/15/2008 |
Ruston Way Stakeholder Meeting |
| 02/06/2008 |
Planning Commission public hearin gon Critical Areas |
| 02/09/2008 |
Economic Develop.ent Committee |
| 02/13/2008 |
Stakeholder Meeting |
| 02/20/2008 |
Planning Commission review of Critical Areas testimony |
| 03/102008 |
Stakeholder Meeting |
| 03/12/2009 |
Planning Commission review of Critical Areas testimony |
| 03/19/2008 |
Planning Commission review of Critical Areas Update |
| 04/02/2008 |
Planning Commission review of Criticla Areas Update |
| 04/16/2008 |
Planning Commission public hearing on Critical Areas |
| 05/07/2008 |
Planning Commission discussion of Critical Areas and Shoreline Update |
| 05/21/2008 |
Planning Commission review of Critical Areas testimony |
| 06/03/2008 |
City Council Study Session on Critical Areas Update |
| 06/17/2008 |
City Council Public Hearing on Critical Areas Update |
| 07/01/2008 |
City Council Adoption of Critical Areas Update |
| 10/23/2008 |
SMP Public Workshop |
| 11/19/2008 |
Planning Commission discussion of SMP background materials
re: public access, restoration, and land use. |
| 12/17/2008 |
Technical Review Committee |
| 01/27/2009 |
City Council Study Session |
| 09/10/2009 |
Stakeholder Meeting |
| 10/29/2009 |
Open House |
| 11/04/2009 |
Planning Commission overview of Shoreline Management Act and update |
| 12/02/2009 |
Planning Commission discussion of Shoreline Designations
and District Boundaries |
| 01/20/2010 |
Planning Commission discussion of Use Matrix and WAC Guidelines |
| 02/03/2010 |
Planning Commission discussion of Thea Foss Update |
| 02/17/2010 |
West End Neighborhood Council |
| 03/03/2010 |
Planning Commision discussion of Public Access policies and regulations |
| 03/09/2010 |
City of Tacoma Sustainability Commission |
| 03/30/2010 |
City Council Study Session |
| 04/08/2010 |
Metro Parks Tacoma Nature and Environment Advisory Committee |
| 04/21/2010 |
West End Neighborhood Council |
| 04/28/2010 |
Committee and Economic Development Committee, 4:30 in TMBN 16. |
| 05/13/2010 |
Metro Parks Tacome Nature and Environment Advisory Committee |
| 05/18/2010 |
City Council Committee of the Whole - 3:00 pm 9th Floor Visibility Center |
| 06/09/2010 |
City Council Joint Committee Meeting,
Environment and Public Works Committee and
Economic Development Committee, 4:30 in TMBN 16. |
| 06/24/2010 |
Community Council - 6:00 pm in TMBN 16 |
| 07/21/2010 |
Planning Commission review and discussion |
| 08/18/2010 |
Planning Commission review and discussion of project schedule |
| 09/01/2010 |
Planning Commission tour of shoreline and Port |
| 10/20/2010 |
Informational Meeting on Preliminary Draft. For meeting materials please click here. |
| 10/27/2010 |
Informational Meeting on Foss Waterway draft documents. For meeting materials please click here. |
| 11/03/2010 |
Planning Commission review and discussion |
| 11/17/2010 |
Planning Commission review and discussion. 747 Market St. TMBN 16. 4:00-6:00pm. |
| 11/23/2010 |
City Council Study Session. 747 Market St. TMBN 16. 12:00 pm. |
| 12/15/2010 |
Planning Commission review and discussion of schedule and work program. Agenda materials may be found here. |
| 01/05/2011 |
Planning Commission review and discussion of draft public access requirements, public comments, and policy options. Agenda materials may be found here. |
| 01/19/2011 |
Planning Commission review and discussion of draft policies and development regulations pertaining to S-7 Schuster Parkway Shoreline District. Agenda materials may be found here. |
| 02/02/2011 |
Planning Commission review and discussion of draft policies and development regulations pertaining to S-8 Thea Foss Waterway Shoreline District. Agenda materials may be found here. |
| 02/09/2011 |
City Council joint EPW/EDC Committee meeting. Agenda materials may be found here. |
| 02/16/2011 |
Planning Commission review and discussion of public access standards and review of S-7 and S-8 District discussions. Agenda materials may be found here. |
| 02/23/2011 |
City Council joint EPW/EDC Committee meeting. 4:30 pm. 733 Market St. Rm 16 |
| 03/02/2011 |
Planning Commission review and discussion of draft Cumulative Impacts Analysis. Agenda materials may be found here. |
| 03/09/2011 |
City Council joint EPW/EDC Committee meeting. 4:30 pm. 733 Market St. Rm 16 |
| 03/16/2011 |
Planning Commission review and discussion of preliminary draft including nonconforming uses and structures, log rafting and storage, and Wetlands of Local Significance. Agenda materials may be found here. |
| 04/06/2011 |
Planning Commission review and discussion of revised draft with track changes. 733 Market St. Rm 16. Agenda materials may be found here. |
| 04/20/2011 |
Planning Commission review and discussion of revised draft with track changes. 733 Market St. Rm 16. Agenda materials may be found here. |
| 05/10/2011 |
EDC/EPW Committee, 3:00 - 4:00 pm, 747 Market St. Room 248 |
| 05/19/2011 |
Q&A with Staff, 5:00 - 6:30, 733 Market St. Room 16 |
| 06/01/2011 |
Planning Commission Public Hearing, 5:00 pm, 747 Market St. City Council Chambers, 1st floor |
| 06/07/2011 |
Joint City Council and Port Commission study session. Fabulich Center. Port of Tacoma Road. |
Additional Meetings where staff was invited to discuss or provide information on the Shoreline Master Program Update:
| 01/06/2009 |
East Foss Business and property Owners |
| 01/27/2009 |
City Council Study Session |
| 02/02/2009 |
Union Station District Coordinating Group |
| 04/08/2009 |
East Foss Business and property Owners |
| 04/17/2009 |
FWDA Board Retreat |
| 07/22/2009 |
Walk the Waterfront and S-7 Stakeholders |
| 09/02/2009 |
Walk the Waterfront |
| 01/28/2010 |
Waterfront Tacoma Conference, UWT |
| 01/29/2010 |
Chamber of Commerce Task Force |
| 02/19/2010 |
Chamber of Commerce Task Force |
| 03/16/2010 |
Master Builder's Association Legislative Committee |
| 05/19/2010 |
FWDA Board Meeting |
| 07/15/2010 |
Tacoma Waterfront Association |
| 08/12/2010 |
Chamber of Commerce Task Force |
Staff has also had ongoing discussions with other stakeholders identified in the Public Participation Plan.
Thea Foss Workshop - 11.29.07
Shoreline Open House - 10.23.08
Shoreline Open House - 10.29.09
Letters
City Council EPW and EDC joint committee meeting - 04.28.10
Stephen Atkiknson, satkinson@cityoftacoma.org, 253-591-5531