City of Kennewick - Virtual Open House Scheduled to Present Overview of Shoreline Master Program Update

The City of Kennewick Planning Department is hosting a Virtual Open House on Monday, December 21, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. to present an overview of its Shoreline Master Program (SMP), the update process and to gather comments, suggestions and other feedback from the public. Participants can join the meeting at www.go2kennewick.com/SMP-Update. The open house will be recorded and posted on the website.

To review proposed changes to the SMP, the SMP checklist and other information, or to submit comments, please visit www.go2kennewick.com/SMP-Update or email [email protected]. Comments can also be submitted by regular mail to Attn: Anthony Muai, 210 W. 6th Ave., Kennewick, WA 99336.

State law currently requires agencies to periodically review and update their local SMP regulations and plans. The City of Kennewick is initiating this process in 2020 to be completed in 2021, as mandated by state law for all jurisdictions in Benton County. The Washington State Department of Ecology maintains a list of changes made by the legislature that affect the Shoreline Management Act (SMA) so that local jurisdictions can easily identify local regulations that need to be updated to be consistent with the SMA.

Kennewick's SMP defines how the shoreline areas of the City and its urban growth area will be managed. Lands within 200 feet of the Columbia River, and their associated wetlands, are subject to the policies and regulations of the SMP. Other intermittent streams and water bodies, such as Zintel Creek and Elliot Lake, are regulated by the city’s critical areas ordinance only. All properties must comply with the city’s zoning and comprehensive plan, and properties subject to the SMP must comply with critical areas as well.