Whatcom County and Washington Department of Ecology are accepting comments on a periodic review of the County’s shoreline master program (SMP) under RCW 90.58.080(4). The County has prepared draft SMP amendments to keep the SMP current with changes in state law, changes in other County plans and regulations, and other changed local circumstances. Public comments will be accepted from March 12 through April 12, 2021, at 5 p.m. Send comments to County Senior Planner Cliff Strong at [email protected]. Comments sent to the County will be forwarded to the Department of Ecology.

Proposed amendments to the County SMP are available for review at https://www.whatcomcounty.us/3119/SMP-Update-2020-Documents. Due to Covid-19 restrictions and offices being closed, please contact Cliff Strong at the above email address if you need paper copies to review. 

Additionally, a joint local-state (virtual) public hearing is set for April 22, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. In addition to the SMP Update, the hearing will also address 

1) PLN2019-00011, a Council directive to consider amending the CompPlan and codes to allow the seasonal extraction of sand and gravel from dry upland areas under certain conditions; and 

2) PLN2018-00010, the addition of a Sustainable Salmon Harvest Goal policy to the CompPlan, both of which are embedded in the SMP Update documents.

For information on how to watch and participate in the meeting in real time, please visit the County website at: https://www.whatcomcounty.us/3436/Participate-in-Virtual-Planning-Commission.