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The update affects the shorelines of the Deschutes, the Black Lake drainage ditch, portions of Percival Creek and Barnes, Black, Capitol, Munn, Susan and Trosper lakes. Among the changes the planning commission wants feedback on are: • Nonconforming property. In one scenario, a house inside a buffer destroyed by fire or another natural disaster could be rebuilt using the same foundation. In the other, the property owner would be required to prove that he or she needs to rebuild in the same location.
• Buffer setbacks. The draft proposes that property within a buffer could be developed vertically but not toward the water or parallel to it, principal planner Tim Smith said. For development that requires a permit, the size of the buffer would be determined on a case-by-case basis and require a wetland or biologist report, Smith said.
• Commercial development. The plan would require that commercial development or plats with four or more dwellings provide either public access to shorelines or views of shorelines.
The planning commission will develop recommendations and provide an update to the City Council by the end of the year, Smith said.
Elsewhere in Thurston County, Olympia is working on its shoreline update, Bucoda held a meeting this week and Tenino has a hearing scheduled next month, according to Steven Morrison, senior planner for the Thurston Regional Planning Council. Thurston County is in the beginning stages of its update, Morrison added.
Lacey’s plan already has been approved by the state Department of Ecology, according to city officials. The program will go into effect 14 days after final approval from Ecology, said Lacey city principal planner Dave Burns.
Burns said Lacey’s program focuses on protecting lakes, including a uniform setback of 50 feet. Before, setbacks generally were 25 feet in residential areas but could reach 125 feet in sensitive areas.
Nate Hulings: 360-754-5476
nhulings@theolympian.com
www.theolympian.com/outsideoly
