Comment on Buckley’s proposed shoreline master program revisions

White River shoreline near Buckley in Pierce County. The city uses its shoreline master program to help manage how its four miles of shoreline along the river are developed and protected.

If development is proposed adjacent to Buckley’s four miles of city shoreline along the White River in Pierce County, the city applies its shoreline master program (SMP) to evaluate how and whether that action can occur.

We approved Buckley’s SMP in 2013 during the city's comprehensive SMP update. The city uses its locally-tailored set of policies, regulations, and ordinances help manage how its shoreline areas are developed and protected.

We and Buckley are now holding a joint local-state comment period from Feb. 13 through March 18, 2019, to get public feedback about some revisions the city is seeking to make to its SMP during a required periodic review.

The shared Ecology-city of Buckley public comment period will culminate in a public hearing on March 18 at 7 p.m. at the city of Buckley Multipurpose Building, 811 Main St., in Buckley.

We provided Buckley a $10,000 grant to help the city evaluate any changes to local circumstances as well as consider new information or data that ought to be incorporated into its SMP.

As a result of the review, Buckley is seeking language changes to ensure its SMP is consistent with state and local laws, including the city’s zoning and critical areas ordinances.

Draft SMP documents available online or in person

Buckley posted its draft SMP amendments and a list of proposed changes on the city’s website. The public can also review printed versions at the Buckley planning office at 811 Main St. or city hall at 933 Main St. in Buckley.

Comments can be submitted online or by sending written comments to:

Kathy James
City of Buckley
PO Box 1960
Buckley, WA 98321

Please direct questions about the proposed SMP revisions to Buckley city planner Kathy James (phone, 360-761-7812).

Next steps

Once the comment period is done, Buckley will prepare a response to public comments and determine if any changes to its proposed SMP revisions are needed. The city will also share its comments and responses to us. After Buckley makes a final decision about its revised SMP, the city will send its findings to us for approval.