Plan Process
How Can I Get Involved in the Remaining Public Process?
An important requirement of the SMP update is public participation throughout the entire process. For information on the different ways that citizens may participate in the process, please see the Public Participation Plan or contact Planning Manager Richard Hart at rhart@ci.covington.wa.us.
Several public hearings and public comment periods have already been held and additional hearings and comment periods will be scheduled over the next twelve months.
What Is The Process And Schedule For Review, Public Input/Comment, And Eventual Adoption?
The City initially established a 10 member Ad Hoc Advisory Committee to serve as a review body to provide feedback on the development of the proposed regulations to the city staff, its consultant, and eventually the Planning Commission and City Council. The Advisory Committee met for a 13 month period during 2008 and 2009 and provided valuable guidance and input to the city staff and consultant on the proposed Draft Shoreline Master Program (SMP) and resulting goals, policies and regulations, restoration plan and cumulative impacts analysis. The Advisory Committee then recommended the final Draft SMP goals, policies and regulations with associated maps and documents to the Planning Commission in March 2009.
The planning commission held several public meetings and one formal public hearing in April, May and June 2009. They made several minor modifications and the recommended the Final Draft SMP to the City Council. In July 2009, the City Council endorsed the Final Draft SMP, goals, policies and regulations along with associated documents and maps by Council Resolution on July 14, 2009. Council directed city staff to forward the Draft SMP and regulations to the State Department of Environmental Quality (DOE) for their required early review and comment. The State DOE has provided the City of Covington with comments, specific direction and recommendations that have already been included in our final draft of the SMP and regulations. City Council will adopt the proposed SMP with its goals, policies and regulations prior to June 30, 2011.
You may direct your questions and/or comments to Planning Manager Richard Hart at: rhart@ci.covington.wa.us.
More Information:
For more information on the Shoreline Master Plan Update for the City of Covington, including maps showing the extent of the shoreline jurisdictions and other interesting features of these areas, please click the Documents link on the left.