PORT TOWNSEND — More than 25 scientists met with city officials Thursday at Fort Worden State Park, the first step in long-term planning for future shoreline development.
The city is undertaking a four-year update of its shoreline master plan.
The update could help regulate development, provide more public access to beaches and lead to shoreline restoration efforts.
The comprehensive update is being carried out by a handful of cities in the state after Department of Ecology rules set in place in November 2000 were later overturned.
“The city is voluntarily undertaking this,” said Randy Davis, a shoreline planner with the Department of Ecology in Olympia. “It’s impressive. We’re going to try and support the city at each phase of the project.”
Ecology is helping fund the first phase of the study with a $20,000 matching grant.
——————-
The rest of this story appears in the Friday/Saturday Peninsula Daily News Jefferson County edition. Click on “Subscribe” to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.