DPD will host a second public workshop to guide development of the Shoreline Alternative Mitigation Plan (SAMP) on Nov. 15. SAMP represents a commitment by the City of Seattle to support its maritime industry while simultaneously promoting shoreline restoration in Salmon Bay, the Ship Canal and Lake Union.

Through this plan, applicants for shoreline development permits will have the option of compensating for adverse shoreline impacts on their sites, or contributing to a fund that would pay for shoreline restoration projects elsewhere within the planning area. All shorelines between the Montlake Cut and the Hiram Chittenden Locks are within the planning area.

Shoreline development projects will be reviewed in much the same way they are today. The City will evaluate proposed projects to identify changes that could minimize shoreline impacts. An example would be placing grating in a dock to reduce the impact of overwater coverage. Any outstanding impacts would require mitigation, and these are the impacts that applicants could choose to mitigate off-site. There would be no other changes in the regulatory process, including the ability of project applicants and the community to appeal permit decisions made by the City.

The workshop will build upon the results of the first workshop held in June, and the work of the Citizens Advisory Committee. These forums have identified several important issues to be resolved in this planning process. Among the issues to be discussed in detail are:

• How can the applicants and the community ensure that an offsite mitigation program still results in no net loss of ecological function?
• Where could offsite mitigation projects be located?
• What types of projects should be eligible for offsite mitigation?

Workshop participants will have the opportunity to learn more about SAMP and the planning process, ask questions, and make suggestions about how best to approach the planning issues SAMP raises.