DPD has begun the process of revising Seattle’s Shoreline Master Program (SMP) for the first time since 1987. The SMP establishes policies and regulations governing land use along marine and freshwater shorelines. Seattle’s shorelines include Puget Sound, Lake Washington, Lake Union and the Ship Canal, the Duwamish River and Green Lake. The area affected by the SMP is generally 200 feet landward from the waterline.

The goals of the SMP are to maintain preference for water-dependent uses in the shoreline, improve public access, and to restore ecological functions. Jurisdictions throughout the state are required to update their SMPs in order to comply with Washington’s Shoreline Management Act. DPD is working with the Washington Department of Ecology to complete the update of Seattle’s program by the spring of 2010.

Throughout the process, DPD will involve the public in identifying key issues in the city’s shoreline areas, especially in the context of our region’s continued growth as well as the City’s responses to the challenge of climate change. DPD will host regular public meetings to request stakeholder input and provide information about progress on the SMP update

The first public meeting will occur on November 7, 2007 in the Bertha Knight Landes Room at City Hall. The public is invited to an open house from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. A 30-minute presentation will begin at 6:00 p.m. This open house will provide participants with important information on Seattle’s current shoreline program, the state of Seattle’s shorelines and associated lands, new state guidelines for shoreline program updates, and DPD’s plan for updating the SMP and for public participation over the next three years.

To encourage people to start thinking about these issues, DPD is sponsoring a “Shorelines of Seattle” photo competition. We invite the public to submit photographs of their favorite places, showcasing the rich variety of uses and landscapes along Seattle’s shorelines. These pictures will be compiled and displayed at our first public meeting. If you would like to participate, please email your entries to moon.callison@seattle.gov.