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You might say the Spokane County Shoreline Master Program – a document dealing with uses along the Spokane River and other area waterways – has always been current.
Wave issues aside, the Washington state Department of Ecology is asking for jurisdictions to update their plans to address issues like environmental protection, shoreline development and recreational access. For the city of Spokane Valley, the process began with news last month that the city would be expected to pay $150,000 out of its general fund to cover the revisions.
Outgoing Deputy Mayor Dick Denenny was not exactly skipping along the beach when told of the requirement.
“It’s an unfunded mandate that has to come out of our limited tax base,” Denenny said at the Oct. 27 City Council meeting.
The city has since hired URS Corp., an engineering consulting firm that has worked with the city of Spokane on its refurbished shoreline plan.
Since incorporating in 2003, Spokane Valley has been referring to Spokane County’s Shoreline Master Program, originally implemented in 1974. John Patrouch, a senior environmental engineer with URS, said public involvement will be critical in the organization of Spokane Valley’s document.
“Anyone who is interested in the river corridor should be a part of this,” he said.
Last Thursday, nearly 50 people showed up at Spokane Valley City Hall last week to hear Patrouch and representatives from Spokane Valley’s community development department talk about the process of crafting a new program specific to the city’s topography.
There are currently over 400 acres of shoreline property in the city of Spokane Valley, defined as being within 200 feet of a water source. The bulk of the land – 321 acres – is located along eight miles of the Spokane River. The majority of that property is owned by the Washington State Parks Department.
Another 26 acres is situated near Shelley Lake, just to the east of Sullivan Road off Appleway. The remaining 67 acres is found around two more man-made “lakes” at the Central Pre-Mix and Flora Road gravel pits.
Scott Kuhta, a project manager with Spokane Valley and one of three full-time city employees who will be working on the revised program, said the county’s plan – which came about after the state passed the Shoreline Management Act in 1971 – is overdue for an update.
“It certainly doesn’t reflect what we have today,” Kuhta said.
The first step in the process will involve an inventory and analysis of Spokane Valley’s existing shoreline property followed by the development of environmental designations and a restoration plan. Overall impacts on the shoreline will also be addressed.
Development regulations, goals and policies will be revised in the next stage. A technical review group, comprised of representatives from organizations like the Department of Fish and Wildlife, local Native American tribes, DOE and area government agencies will provide input along the way. A Shoreline Advisory Committee, including Spokane Valley residents, property owners, environmental groups and city staff, will also contribute to the discussion, primarily during the implementation of goals and policies.
The completed program must be accepted by City Council before final approval from the state. Spokane Valley officials say they hope to have the document ready for administrative review by the end of next year.
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By
Craig Howard
