By Pat Jenkins The Dispatch Changes to guidelines for developing land along lakes and rivers in Pierce County have been approved by the County Council. State law requires counties to update their shoreline development regulations. In Pierce, the rules affect about 12,000 pieces of property near marine waters, rivers, lakes, wetlands and floodplains. An updated plan for Pierce County that was passed by the council March 10 covers residential development and associated accessory uses, docks, piers and floats, bulkheads and retaining walls, boat launching ramps, recreational development, marinas and aquaculture uses. The plan will be reviewed by the state Department of Ecology (DOE), which oversees shoreline management in cooperation with local governments. Under Washington's Shoreline Management Act, approved in 1972 by voters statewide, DOE must review and approve each local shoreline program before it takes effect. More than 200 Washington cities and counties are updating their shoreline programs or have finished the process. Proposed changes of Eatonville's shoreline master plan will be the subject of a public hearing March 30 by the town's Planning Commission. The hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Eatonville Community Center. Councilman Dan Roach said the Pierce County plan strikes "a delicate balance between the state mandate and the property rights of private citizens.GÇ¥ The council held public meetings, including one in Parkland in February, to solicit citizens' comments on the regulations. "Hundreds of citizens were involved in crafting this legislation,GÇ¥ Roach said. Lakes in south Pierce County that will be subject to the updated regulations include Spanaway, Ohop, Alder, Silver, Clear, Harts, Rapjohn, Tanwax and Kapowsin.
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