Shoreline Master Program

The City of Lake Stevens is proposing minor updates to its SMP utilizing the joint review process with the Department of Ecology outlined in WAC 173-26-104 and summarized in this guidance document. The city's SMP update intends to resolve inconsistencies between the SMP and the Lake Stevens Municipal Code (LSMC) regarding permissible uses in the Shoreline Residential environment designation and to update references to the city's current Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO), which was evaluated in Appendix B of the city's 2019 SMP periodic update.

The city held a 30-day public comment period (November 7-December 7, 2022) and a joint public hearing with the Department of Ecology on December 7, 2022. The city submitted the revisions to the Department of Commerce (Submittal ID 2022-S-4458) for the required 60-day review and issued a SEPA addendum on January 27, 2023 under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).

Public hearings are scheduled before the Lake Stevens Planning Commission on Wednesday, February 15 at 6:00 pm and City Council on February 28, 2023. Oral testimony will be accepted both in person (The Mill at Lake Stevens, 1808 Main Street, Lake Stevens) and via Zoom (link to be provided on the city website calendar).

The following materials are available for review as part of the city's update process:

Shoreline Master Program (~~Strikethrough~~/Underline Text showing proposed changes/additions/deletions to the SMP)
Local Review Checklist summarizing the proposed SMP amendments (including sections/page numbers)
Notice of Public Hearing
Notice of SEPA Addendum

Written comments can be submitted through email (rwright@lakestevenswa.gov) or mail (Lake Stevens City Hall, Attn: Russ Wright, PO Box 257, Lake Stevens, WA 98258).

What is a Shoreline Master Program (SMP)?
The Shoreline Master Program (SMP) regulates uses and development along Lake Stevens and other waters of the state - Stich Lake, Catherine Creek, and Little Pilchuck Creek - as well as their shorelands, which are defined as areas within 200 feet of the ordinary high-water mark (OHWM). The city adopted its first SMP in 2013, and completed a mandatory periodic review in 2018-2019.

Periodic Review 2018-2019

The city completed a mandatory periodic review of our SMP in 2019. Staff reports and draft materials can be found below.

January 9, 2019 Public Open House Presentation: Click here for staff's presentation.

Planning Commission Meetings were held February 6 and 20, 2019.

DRAFT SMP Update Report , Joint Hearing Staff Report, Draft SMP Regulations, Proposed Map Designation Change