Local Shoreline Group to Sponsor Shoreline Regulation Public Forum
Posted by admin on March 23rd, 2010March 21st, 2010, Bellevue, WA
WSSA, the Washington Sensible Shorelines Alliance, will be presenting testimony in an open public forum before the Bellevue Planning Commission March 24th at Bellevue City Hall, Room 1E-108 to raise awareness of the issues surrounding the proposed revision of shoreline regulations by the City of Bellevue. These proposed regulations will impact shoreline owners and even property owners close to shorelines on all lakes within and touching the City of Bellevue.
WSSA is a grassroots group formed by Bellevue shoreline residents concerned that not only are the proposed regulations burdensome and expensive to the owners, they will not provide the environmental benefits promised. To demonstrate that, The WSSA has gathered professionals in Shoreline ecology, fisheries science, as well as the Shoreline Management Act and other legislation to speak publicly on these matters.
WSSA board member, Dr. Martin Nizlek points to the favorable results achieved in Redmond noting that “Lakeside residents are diligent stewards of our lakes. We are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to live along the lakeshores, and seek sensible ways to maintain them.”
The presentation open house will also include self-funded research showing that the “Best Available Science” review used by the city has serious flaws in both the data presented as fact, and in the interpretation of the law and requirements of State agencies like the Department of Ecology.
Another WSSA member commented, “Several shoreline scientists who have testified before the Bellevue Planning Commission have concluded that most meaningful and cost-effective improvements in our lakes will come from improvements in stormwater runoff management in the creeks and streams feeding the lakes, not from forcing shoreline owners to tear down long-existing bulkheads and plant wide ‘buffer strips’ separating homes from the waterfront.”
WSSA Goals and Objectives for maintaining and improving our lakes and shorelines include:
- Improving public understanding of the actual requirements of the Shoreline Management Act and other related legislation
- Improving Stormwater Management to reduce runoff pollution, including monitoring of lake water quality and height
- Voluntary action by citizens and civic groups to helping repair the decades of damage to creeks and streams caused by the city’s neglect
- Creating meaningful shoreline regulation based on the actual requirements of our lakes
- Enabling sustainable populations of native fish species
- Ensuring the city itself complies with existing and proposed environmental regulations
- Communicating the City’s long term shoreline development plans to the community.
The March 24th Shoreline Regulation Forum is open to the public and all interested parties are encouraged to attend.
