ISLAND COUNTY: County sends shoreline plan to state for feedback

Sam Fletcher reports from the Island County Commissioners board meeting of Tue., Aug. 13, 2024 for the Whidbey News-Times.

Island County has a new plan that governs the use of the shoreline.

In a 2-1 vote last month, Island County commissions adopted the Shoreline Master Program, which is mandated to be updated every 10 years under the the state Shoreline Management Act that must be updated every 10 years. The plan currently sits with the Department of Ecology to provide recommendations before it is implemented.

The major updates to the program tightened the definition of dredging, loosened drain field replacement rules and changed how sea wall applications are assessed.

They Said It

The sole “no” vote came from Commissioner Jill Johnson, citing concerns with the process at large.

Johnson said her concern is about local control.

“I believe that when this board votes it should reflect this board’s values and not things that we are told to do by the state,” she said.

“That kind of, ‘we’ll make you do it, but we’ll tell you how,’ there’s just no part of me that finds that appropriate,” Johnson said. “I don’t think it speaks to local government well. I don’t think it’s respectful of our local voices and input.”

Commissioner Janet St. Clair emphasized the importance of the pre-application process for permits and urged greater outreach for this. It benefits the applicant to meet with the county before applying, she said.

“It reminds me of going wine tasting, where if I spend $20 I get 20 bucks off my next bottle of wine, but that may not be an appropriate metaphor for what we’re doing here,” she said.