Shoreline Master Plan Periodic Review

City of McCleary Shoreline Master Program Periodic Review 2023

Background

The City of McCleary is undertaking a periodic review of its Shoreline Master Program (SMP). The Shoreline Management Act (SMA) requires each SMP to be reviewed and revised, if needed, on an eight-year schedule established by the Legislature, in accordance with WAC 173-26-090. The review ensures the SMP stays current with changes in laws and rules, remains consistent with other McCleary plans and regulations, and is responsive to changed circumstances, new information, and improved data.

Needed Updates & Revisions

The current SMP was last updated in 2016. Since then, new state laws, rules, and guidance have been updated which may require amendments to the SMP. The Department of Ecology publishes a checklist of state laws, rules, or other applicable documents published each year that require local governments to review their SMP for conformance. In 2022, the city's consultant, The Watershed Company, reviewed the checklist and identified opportunities for amendments.

A frequently asked questions (FAQ) has also been published on this page for added information.

Public Involvement Opportunities

Early and continuous public participation is a requirement of the Shoreline Management Act. As part of the City's 2023 SMP Periodic Review, the City has prepared a public participation plan which describes how the public will be informed about and involved in decision making for the SMP update. The City also acknowledges that a variety of stakeholders have particular interests in the City's SMP, such as:

• Business organizations, environmental groups, and other non-governmental organizations
• General public
• Government Agencies
• Native American Tribes
• Owners of property within the shoreline jurisdiction
• Property owners
• Utilities and Transportation

The City has scheduled the following opportunities for the public to engage with City staff and their consultants working on the project.

• Joint Public Hearing - The McCleary City Council and Department of Ecology scheduled a public hearing on March 8, 2023, at 6:30 pm. Meeting information will be available about one week prior to the date of the public hearing.
• For full details on the ways the City plans to engage with the public on the 2023 SMP Periodic Review, view the City's 2023 SMP Update Public Participation Plan.

Project Timeline

The following is a general schedule for the City's SMP Periodic Review project. The City plans to adopt an amended SMP in the Summer of 2023, following approval from the Department of Ecology. Interested parties are encouraged to make public comments or reach out to the City staff contact with any questions regarding the project.

Anticipated Timeline (Updated February 16, 2023)

• Project webpage Ongoing throughout project
• At key project milestones:                 Notifications to interested parties.
• October 2022                                     Initial stakeholder coordination
• October 2022                                     Public Participation Plan created
• November 2022                                 Ecology Periodic Review Checklist drafted
• November 2022                                 Draft Amendments submitted for preliminary review to DOE
• Winter 2022-23                                  Planning Commission meeting(s)
• Winter 2023                                        Joint public comment period / SEPA comment period
• March 6, 2023-April 6, 2023             SMP Update and SEPA determination comment period
• March 8, 2023                                    Joint public hearing – City Council Meeting
• June 2023                                          City Council SMP Adoption Tentative
• By May 2023                                      Submit Application for Final Determination from Ecology
• TBD / Expected by end of 2023       Final Ecology Approval