USA: Comments Sought on Pend Oreille County’s Shoreline Program

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is seeking public comment on Pend Oreille County’s proposed comprehensive update of its shoreline master program.

The county’s locally tailored shoreline program is designed to help minimize environmental damage to shoreline areas, reserve appropriate areas for water-oriented uses, and protect the public’s right to public lands and waters.

The updated shoreline master program guides construction and development along more than 60 lakes, rivers, and streams including Pend Oreille River, Diamond and Sacheen Lakes, and Sullivan Creek. It combines local plans for future development and preservation with new development ordinances and related permitting requirements.

Pend Oreille County’s proposed program will:

– Provide shoreline regulations that are integrated with the county’s growth management planning, zoning and critical areas ordinances.

– Preserve and enhance publicly-owned portions of the shoreline.

– Include a more refined shoreline designation system, allowing the county to use customized approaches that better integrate land use planning tools and county development standards.

Ecology will accept public comment on the County’s proposed shoreline program through 5 p.m. on May 29, 2013.

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Press Release, April 16, 2013