OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Shoreline, Washington/Planning Commission
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Shoreline Planning Commission Introduces Natural Environment and Shoreline Master Program Elements in 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update – February 1, 2024

Planning Commission — Thursday, February 1, 2024
BodyShoreline, Washington
SessionPlanning Commission
DateThursday, February 1, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 35:29

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:13

I love those lines, but it must be amazing.

0:19

Recording in progress.

0:22

Good evening.

0:23

I'd like to call to order the Thursday, February 1st, 2024 Planning Commission regular meeting.

0:30

First item is roll call.

0:33

Ms.

0:33

Hoaxman.

0:36

Thank you, Commissioner Brinson.

0:39

Here.

0:40

Commissioner Galuska.

0:49

Did you say, and I missed it because you're muted?

0:54

Okay.

0:55

Commissioner Galusca is here.

0:57

Commissioner Lynn.

1:02

Okay.

1:03

Hold on.

1:10

Sorry about that.

1:11

I had your okay.

1:13

Yes, I'm here.

1:15

My fault.

1:16

Commissioner Mosier.

1:18

Here.

1:19

Vice Chair Wama Shonjay.

1:21

Present.

1:22

Chair Sager.

1:23

Here.

1:23

Thank you.

1:24

And Commissioner Callahan is absent with notice.

1:27

Thank you.

1:28

Next item is approval of the agenda.

1:31

Does anybody wish to make any changes?

1:35

Seeing none.

1:36

How about approval of the meeting minutes for January 18th?

1:40

Does anybody have any changes?

1:43

No, great.

1:44

All right.

1:45

We are gonna uh oh, I'm sorry, public comment.

1:48

Is there any uh general public comment?

1:52

No general public comment tonight.

1:54

Thank you.

1:55

That brings us to our study item, the 2024 comprehensive plan update.

2:02

Introduction of elements, natural and natural environment, and shoreline master program.

2:10

All right, yeah.

2:11

So I'll uh TS up here tonight, so thank you.

2:14

And um, we're here tonight to talk about the natural element and the shoreline master program elements of the comprehensive plan.

2:24

So tonight is the first of a series of uh element reviews that we'll be launching into.

2:31

Um so we're really excited to hit this milestone, and so tonight we'll be providing an overview of the element purpose, talk about how it relates to the state, regional, and county requirements, as well as some of the supporting data.

2:48

We'll share how the public participation that we've been conducting over the better part of a year almost now, how we've used that to inform uh what we'll be presenting going forward.

3:00

We'll talk also about the three lenses of climate equity and social justice and housing and how that'll be kind of overlaid to inform our policy work, as well as talk about some terminology and uh provide an overview or review rather of the uh purpose of the planning commission's review here and kind of your role as well as the kind of the process logistics and the timeline.

3:28

Um so like I said, I'm teeing it up here.

3:31

Um, but we have uh Mandy Roberts from OTAC here in the room tonight that'll be presenting some of the content as well as online this evening.

3:42

Um her colleague and a part of our uh team, Kara Donovan is online as well, and we'll be presenting a portion along with Steve and Elise.

3:51

So with that, I'll turn it over.

3:54

Okay, thank you.

3:56

Assuming everyone can hear me.

3:58

All right, great.

3:59

Well, again, my name is Mandy Roberts, and it's great to be with you, Commissioners, this evening.

4:05

So just wanted to give you a little bit of an overview of of the two elements that you will be receiving goals and policy draft uh content for.

4:16

Um so the natural element really supports a commitment to a healthy and sustainable environment in shoreline.

4:23

It protects critical areas, and by critical areas, of course, we mean wetlands, streams, riparian areas, habitat areas, frequently flooded areas, steep slopes.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Use Planning█████████████████████████████████████████████64%
Procedural█████████████19%
Tree Preservation████6%
Environmental Protection███4%
Public Engagement███4%
Parks and Recreation██3%
Summary of Proceedings

Shoreline Planning Commission Introduces Natural Environment and Shoreline Master Program Elements in 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update – February 1, 2024

The Shoreline Planning Commission held a regular meeting on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. to begin reviewing the Natural Environment and Shoreline Master Program elements of the 2024 Comprehensive Plan update. Staff and consultants presented an overview of the elements, including state, regional, and county requirements, supporting data, public participation findings, and the review process. Commissioners were invited to individually edit draft goals and policies using tracked changes for submission by February 18, with combined comments to be discussed at the March 7 meeting. The meeting included two oral public comments and numerous written comments.

Consent Calendar

  • The agenda was approved as presented.
  • The minutes of the January 18, 2024 regular meeting were approved as presented.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Chrissey Gildow, Shoreline resident, expressed strong support for protecting west-facing views of mountains and saltwater, noting that Richmond Beach Saltwater Park has been recognized as one of the best sunset viewing locations in Washington. She urged the Commission to treat these views as a protected asset.
  • Kathleen Russell, speaking on behalf of Save Shoreline Trees, requested that the phrase "established trees" be explicitly included in the Comprehensive Plan goals and policies. She referenced statements from two City Council members prioritizing tree preservation and the findings from the 2023 Urban Canopy Assessment that Shoreline's urban forest provides millions of dollars in avoided infrastructure costs, pollution reduction, and stored carbon. She argued that the word "nature" is too broad and does not capture the importance of mature trees.
  • Written public comment was submitted by multiple individuals, including Jonelle Kemmerling, Susanne Tsoming, Claudia Turner, Carla Carroll, Nancy Morris, Boni Biery, Trisha Woollcott, Jean Hilde, Kathleen Russell (two submissions), and Sigrid Strom (two submissions). The content was not detailed in the minutes, but they are listed as PDFs.

Discussion Items

  • 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update – Introduction of Natural Environment and Shoreline Master Program Elements: Senior Planner Steve Szafran, Acting Planning Director Andrew Bauer, consultants Mandi Roberts and Cara Donovan (Otak), and Acting Planning Manager Elise Keim provided a detailed presentation. They explained the purpose of each element, their alignment with the Growth Management Act (GMA), Shoreline Management Act, Multi-County Planning Policies (MPPs), and Countywide Planning Policies (CPPs). They discussed supporting data such as critical areas, tree canopy, water resources, and greenhouse gas emissions. Public participation results showed strong support for nature parks, open space, mature tree preservation, and public waterfront access. The three lenses of climate, housing, and equity and social justice were applied to evaluate goals and policies. Commissioners were asked to individually review the draft goals and policies using a Word document with tracked changes and submit comments by February 18. The process will continue with combined feedback presented at the March 7 meeting and eventually to the City Council.
  • Process and Timeline: The review will proceed in phases: each element will be introduced, commissioners will have three weeks to submit individual comments, then staff will combine comments and bring them back for discussion at the next meeting. The natural environment and SMP elements are the first of several to be reviewed throughout the year. The final comprehensive plan will be recommended to the City Council.

Key Outcomes

  • The Planning Commission will individually review draft goals and policies for the Natural Environment and Shoreline Master Program elements, using tracked changes in a Word document, and submit comments by February 18, 2024.
  • Staff will compile commissioner comments and present them at the March 7, 2024 Planning Commission meeting, which will include public opportunity to hear feedback.
  • The Commission reached consensus to cancel the February 15, 2024 meeting due to no agenda items.
  • The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

I love those lines, but it must be amazing. Recording in progress. Good evening. I'd like to call to order the Thursday, February 1st, 2024 Planning Commission regular meeting. First item is roll call. Ms. Hoaxman. Thank you, Commissioner Brinson. Here. Commissioner Galuska. Did you say, and I missed it because you're muted? Okay. Commissioner Galusca is here. Commissioner Lynn. Okay. Hold on. Sorry about that. I had your okay. Yes, I'm here. My fault. Commissioner Mosier. Here. Vice Chair Wama Shonjay. Present. Chair Sager. Here. Thank you. And Commissioner Callahan is absent with notice. Thank you. Next item is approval of the agenda. Does anybody wish to make any changes? Seeing none. How about approval of the meeting minutes for January 18th? Does anybody have any changes? No, great. All right. We are gonna uh oh, I'm sorry, public comment. Is there any uh general public comment? No general public comment tonight. Thank you. That brings us to our study item, the 2024 comprehensive plan update. Introduction of elements, natural and natural environment, and shoreline master program. All right, yeah. So I'll uh TS up here tonight, so thank you. And um, we're here tonight to talk about the natural element and the shoreline master program elements of the comprehensive plan. So tonight is the first of a series of uh element reviews that we'll be launching into. Um so we're really excited to hit this milestone, and so tonight we'll be providing an overview of the element purpose, talk about how it relates to the state, regional, and county requirements, as well as some of the supporting data. We'll share how the public participation that we've been conducting over the better part of a year almost now, how we've used that to inform uh what we'll be presenting going forward. We'll talk also about the three lenses of climate equity and social justice and housing and how that'll be kind of overlaid to inform our policy work, as well as talk about some terminology and uh provide an overview or review rather of the uh purpose of the planning commission's review here and kind of your role as well as the kind of the process logistics and the timeline. Um so like I said, I'm teeing it up here.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com