County discusses Shoreline Master Program’s variance, sea level rise

Thurston’s Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) met yesterday, October 16, to hear the sixth update on the Shoreline Master Program (SMP), focusing on shoreline variances, and sea level rise or shoreline armoring.

Shoreline Variances

A Shoreline Variance is a permit granting relief from specific bulk, dimensional, or performance standards in the Master Program, but not use standards.

During the July SMP work session, BoCC requested additional information on these Shoreline Variances. 

“Generally speaking, it's a type of shoreline permit that's granted when strict adherence to the SMP would deny a reasonable use of property,” Senior Planner Andrew Deffobis explained. “It is not allowed to allow a prohibited use if the use itself is not allowed. You cannot get a variance to allow a prohibited use. It's used to deviate from the standards in certain cases.”

Deffobis explained that there are two types of shoreline variances in the draft SMP, both of which need to be approved by the Department of Ecology per state law.

The first type is the full variance, which requires a hearing examiner's approval and is tied to the Type III application in the existing county code; and the administrative variance, which the staff approves and will either be a Type I or II application under the draft.

According to the agenda packet, shoreline variances are required for situations involving expansions into the standard or reduced shoreline buffer, lateral expansions, or cases where specific bulk, performance, or dimensional standards cannot be met.

“Some of the more common examples that you're going to see are people who are wanting to expand their existing structure, and they're in the buffer, or situations where the buffer needs to be reduced for new development because of extraordinary circumstances,” said Deffobis.

Sea Level Rise or Shoreline Armoring

The SMP update addresses sea level rise indirectly through initiatives such as mapped SMP jurisdiction, Shoreline Environment Designations Reports, frequently flooded area data incorporation, and restoration plans.

The board is also keen on considering landowner requests in making SMP decisions, and most comments were concerned about climate change and sea level rise.

 The agenda packet showed the recurring themes from the public:

• Thurston County must adapt and mitigate climate change to protect shorelines.
• Support for larger buffers to mitigate the projected effects of climate change, including sea level rise, changes in stream temperatures and riparian microclimates, and increases in the rates of flooding, coastal erosion and bluff retreat.
• Concern that climate change does not fall under the purpose of the Shoreline Management Act (SMA) and its implementing rules.
• Climate change can be considered with the next update, but the current update effort should not be prolonged.
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• Recommendations for additional policy language that could be included in the SMP.
• Concern that future sea level rise will result in more requests for shoreline armoring.

 “We know it's a very big topic of interest for the public. Folks were stating that the county must adapt to climate change and protect shorelines. We saw support for larger buffers to mitigate the effects of sea level rise, concern that sea level rise doesn't fall under the Shoreline Management Act or that reworking the SMP would result in delays of adoption,” said Deffobis.

 Deffobis explained that there's a state requirement that as the county implements this master program, implementation must result in no net loss of ecological function. The county is required to track and monitor that as time goes on.

 Thurston County is involved in several efforts to address climate change:

• Coordination with TRPC and other jurisdictions to implement climate action goals
• CPED Water and Data Hazard Services data monitoring and collaboration
• Comprehensive Plan Update
• Tax/Acquisition Incentive Programs
• Healthy Forests Program
• Culvert replacements
• Low Impact Development ordinance
•          Go Green Yard Care Program

Authorities pursued the stolen vehicle occupied by two suspects who allegedly committed a commercial burglary in Olympia.

BoCC discussing the Shoreline Master Program’s variance and sea level rise in the county.