Here is a summary of the Shoreline Master Program (SMP) community meeting held last week at BF Day School. The focus of the meeting was Lake Union and the Ship Canal.
Several FHA members were at the meeting: Bill Keasler, Diana Forman, Susan & Tom Susor, Charlie Weems, Margie Freeman and Bob Bowman.
The first part of the meeting was non structured time to review results from a recently completed shoreline inventory. The analysis and inventory provided a snapshot of existing conditions and uses of the Lake Union/Ship Canal shoreline. We were invited to review the inventory data and maps and speak with the land use planners about the information. Here is the link to the inventory information presentation boards
During the second part of the meeting, Maggie Glowacki, a DPD planner, provided an overview of the SMP update process. The City of Seattle's Shoreline Master Program (SMP) is being comprehensively updated for the first time since 1987. Here is the link to her power point presentation PowerPoint presentation, and other information background sheet .
After the presentation, the community members were split into 4 groups for small group discussion. We split up to make sure FHA folks were represented in every group. Each group addressed the same five questions:
1) Public Access - where do group members experience (access) Lake Union and the Ship Canal?
2) Natural Resources - What natural or environmental features of the Lake Union/Ship Canal shoreline do we need to protect or restore?
3) Allowed Uses - How do we want to see the Lake Union/Ship Canal shoreline used?
4) Vision for the Future - What was our vision for Lake Union and the Ship Canal shorelines 25 years from now? Has the city been successful in managing Lake Union and the Ship Canal Shorelines? How will you know? What will you see or not see? What will be happening (or not happening)? What will be the same (or different)?
5) How well do you feel the Shoreline Management Act's three goals (protection of businesses and uses that depend on proximity to water; maintaining and improving public access to the water; and protecting water quality as well as fish and wildlife habitat) are being balanced in Seattle?
6 Other thoughts, comments, ideas about shorelines in other parts of Seattle?
From my group and my overhearing other group discussions several key points were made in reference to floating homes: maintain historical uses of shoreline including houseboats, maintain an active and diverse waterway, maintain and improve the ecological function of the water (i.e. protect fish and other wildlife).