SMP Joint Public Comment Period
March 1 to April 1, 2019
City of Gold Bar and Department of Ecology, Washington
The City of Gold Bar is conducting a mandatory periodic review of the Gold Bar Shoreline Master Program (SMP) and has elected to use the optional joint review process with the Department of Ecology (Ecology) of their proposed amendments. As required by the Shoreline Management Act, The City and Ecology are initiating the formal review process with the opening of a joint public comment period. To better inform the joint review, you are invited to provide comments.
Gold Bar’s SMP guides construction and development along the Skykomish River, Wallace River, and May Creek. The City has prepared draft SMP amendments to keep the SMP current with changes in state law and critical areas regulations since the last SMP update. The proposed amendments can be reviewed here: https://cityofgoldbar.us/city-services/reports/shoreline-master-plan/, and a printed copy can be reviewed at City Hall.
Ecology’s joint review of the Gold Bar SMP periodic review is allowed by the Shoreline Management Act (Chapter 90.58 RCW) and the SMP Guidelines (WAC 173-26-104). The joint public comment period is open from March 1, 2019, to April 2, 2019. No additional comment period will occur during the state review process. Comments provided to the City will be reviewed by both the City and Ecology; no need to send duplicates.
Send comments in writing to:
Gold Bar City Hall
107 5th Street
Gold Bar, WA 98251
Or by email to:
talia.tittelfitz@bhcconsultants.com
Comments may also be made in person during the joint public hearing, which will be held at 7:00 p.m. on April 2, 2019, at Gold Bar City Hall, 107 5th Street, Gold Bar, WA 98251.
At the conclusion of the comment period, the City will prepare a response to comments and determine if changes are needed. Public comments and the City responses will be shared with Ecology. After local adoption, the SMP amendment will be formally submitted to Ecology for final decision per WAC 173-26-104 and WAC 173-26-110. At the conclusion of Ecology’s formal review, Ecology’s Director must decide to approve the program as submitted, approve it with required changes and/or recommended changes, or deny approval.
We invite you to comment on the proposed program and would appreciate receiving your comments before April 2, 2019, 5:00 p.m. in order to give them full consideration prior to the Director’s decision.