CONTACT: Andrew Deffobis, Senior Planner, Thurston County Community Planning, (360) 522-2593 or Andrew.Deffobis@co.thurston.wa.us.

    

OLYMPIA – The Thurston County community is invited to attend and provide comment at the Shoreline Master Program (SMP) Board of County Commissioners Public Hearing on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at 5pm. The county’s SMP has not been significantly updated since its 1990 adoption. 

To maintain compliance with the state Shoreline Management Act, the county is considering updates to shoreline jurisdiction, environment designations, and associated protections. The SMP regulates development and redevelopment along the marine shorelines of the Puget Sound as well as large lakes and streams. Depending on your location and plans for development, SMP updates may affect your property. 

Those unable to attend are encouraged to submit comment in writing ahead of the public hearing by email, in person, or online. Find the online SMP comment form and more ways to get involved at: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/5ff66e4dc9fd46bab16c2c2a9fdc047c

What: Public Hearing on proposed changes to The County’s Shoreline Master Program 

When: Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at 5pm

Where: Online via Zoom and In-person in Room 110 of the Atrium Building located at 3000 Pacific Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501. Find information on how to attend via Zoom one week prior to the hearing at www.thurstonsmp.org. Instructions are highlighted at the top of the page.    

Thurston County is conducting this comprehensive update of its SMP as required by state law. The update also includes items required by the WA State Department of Ecology (Ecology) in what is referred to as the periodic update. Ecology must approve the updated SMP before it is final and takes effect.

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