White Salmon Critical Areas Ordinance Update: Notice of SEPA Determination and Comment/Appeal Period (WS-SEPA-2023.004) — Public Hearing September 13, 2023

For City of White Salmon File #WS-SEPA-2023.004, Planning Commission Public Hearing September 13, 2023

In the supporting documents (below) is the Notice of SEPA Comment Period/Notice/Appeal/Public Hearing of DRAFT Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) Update. Application materials are also included in the supporting documents below. 

Project location information:

County: Klickitat (Region: Central)

Address: White Salmon City Limits

Parcel Number: N/A, This is a non-project proposal.

Proposal name: Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) Update

Description of Proposal: The City is performing a review of its Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) as required by the State under the Growth Management Act (GMA) for partially planning cities to preserve natural resource lands and critical areas. The City is updating its Critical Areas Ordinance to keep it current with the best available science and consistency with state law, as well as to improve the administration of this chapter. In the future, the City will periodically review its Shoreline Master Plan (SMP) at intervals prescribed by state law. Development projects within and adjacent to the City’s mapped critical areas may be proposed at any time and will be reviewed for compliance with the Chapter 18.10 Critical Areas Ordinance at the time of application.

The proposed Critical Areas Ordinance is currently under review, and local adoption is anticipated in late Fall 2023. The application was determined to be completed on August 28, 2023.

SEPA Determination of Non-significance (DNS) for City of White Salmon, Notice of SEPA Comment Period, Notice SEPA Appeal Period

Notice is hereby given that the City of White Salmon (Applicant) filed a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) checklist (#WS-SEPA-2023.004) for our Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) amendments. The City is updating its Critical Areas Ordinance to keep it current with the best available science and consistency with state law, as well as to improve the administration of Chapter 18.10. This is a non-project proposal. The application was determined to be completed on August 28, 2023.

The application submitted by the City of White Salmon includes the SEPA checklist and the DRAFT Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) amendments. These documents are available on the city’s website (whitesalmonwa.gov).

The City of White Salmon has determined that this proposal will not have a probable significant adverse impact on the environment. An environmental impact statement (EIS) is not required under RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c). After reviewing a completed environmental checklist and other information on file with the lead agency, this decision was made. This information is available to the public upon request.

Any person desiring to express their views or to be notified of the action taken on this application should notify the City of White Salmon in writing of their interest within fourteen (14) days of the date of publication of this notice, which is August 30, 2023. Written comments must be received no later than 5:00 PM on September 13, 2023. Comments can be submitted by mail to City of White Salmon (PO Box 2139, White Salmon, WA 98672), in person at City Hall’s Dropbox (100 N. Main), or by email correspondence at Erikac@ci.white-salmon.wa.us

Per the White Salmon Municipal Code 18.20.170 - Environmental Protection (SEPA review) Appeal, any agency or person may appeal this DNS to the city council. The proponent or any aggrieved party may perfect such appeal by giving notice to the responsible official within ten days of the decision being appealed. Appeals shall not be deemed complete without payment of the appeal fees applicable, payable to the City of White Salmon. Appeals must be filed by September 13, 2023.

SEPA Comment Period:                    Comments received until September 13, 2023, at 5:00 PM

SEPA Appeal Period Ends:               September 13, 2023, at 5:00 PM

General Comment Period Ends:     Comments received until September 29, 2023, at 5:00 PM

Notice of Planning Commission Public Hearing

A public hearing regarding the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) Update (with a virtual/telephonic attendance option) will be held during the Planning Commission meeting on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, at 5:30 PM. The hearing will be in the City Council Chambers (119 NE Church). Those interested may attend the meeting and provide verbal comments at this meeting—Zoom Meeting ID: 833 8311 3322. If you have questions about the September 13 meeting, please contact White Salmon City Hall at (509) 493-1133.

Notice of Public Hearing:                 Planning Commission Meeting September 13, 2023, at 5:30 PM

General Comment Period Ends:     Comments received until September 29, 2023, at 5:00 PM

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

City Contact Person: Troy Rayburn, City Administrator, 509-493-1133 x202.

Applicant Information: City of White Salmon