Welcome
Updated on November 24, 2020
What’s Happening Now?
Thanks for visiting the Bremerton Shoreline Master Program Update Online Tool. The City of Bremerton is undertaking a periodic review of its Shoreline Master Program (SMP).
Bremerton’s SMP encourages reasonable and appropriate development of shorelines, while protecting important natural resources, promoting public access, and providing opportunities to enjoy the aesthetic qualities and recreational activities in shoreline areas.
The SMP update process is required to ensure consistency with existing State regulations enacted City codes, and other new information and improved data. We intend to complete the update by the mid-2021. The City will not develop a new SMP but is proposing minor updates to portions of the existing SMP.
During a public hearing before the City’s Planning Commission on November 16, 2020, the proposed changes to the SMP were presented for comment. The City will prepare a response to comments and determine whether modifications to the City’s proposed changes are needed. Public comments and City responses will be shared with the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology). Once the City completes its refinements to the program update, it will formally submit these documents to Ecology (WAC 173- 26-104 and WAC 173-26-110). If Ecology deems the proposed program update consistent with current state law and rules, it forwards its approval to City staff, who will then bring the proposed program update to the Bremerton City Council for final approval and adoption, likely in the first quarter of 2021.
For additional details on the SMP adoption process, please visit BremertonWa.gov/SMPUpdate.
How to use this website
- Visit each section to learn about the Bremerton Shoreline Master Program and the Update Process, Proposed Amendments and how to contact us.
- Jump between sections using the navigation at the top of the page, or by scrolling down through the site content.
- Share this site with others who may be interested in the project.

Overview and Background
The City of Bremerton is currently reviewing its Shoreline Master Program (SMP) to ensure consistency with existing laws and rules and with other City plans and regulations, and to improve overall usability of the SMP. It is responsive to changed circumstances, new information and improved data.
A Shoreline Master Program (SMP) is a set of policies and regulations required by state law that has three basic principles:
- Encourages reasonable and appropriate development of shorelines with an emphasis on water dependent uses, which when developed are consistent with the control of pollution and prevention of damage to the natural environment, recreational facilities, or industries and commercial uses that require a shoreline location and support economic development; and,
- Protects the natural resources and character of the shorelines, the land, vegetation, wildlife, water, and aquatic life within shoreline environment; and,
- Promotes public access and provides opportunities to enjoy the aesthetic qualities of the natural shorelines and recreational activities in shoreline areas.
The Shoreline Master Program (SMP) is the City's comprehensive plan for our shorelines which contains goals, policies, regulations and programs regarding use, development, conservation and restoration. The SMP is jointly adopted and administered by the City and the Washington State Department of Ecology under the Shoreline Management Act. The current SMP became effective in December 2013. The SMP also references the City’s Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) to regulate impacts to critical areas which occur within shoreline jurisdiction.
The City of Bremerton completed a comprehensive update of its Shoreline Master Program in 2012 with a limited amendment in 2016. Washington state law requires jurisdictions to review and update their SMPs every eight years in accordance with the Shoreline Management Act (SMA) and its current guidelines and legislative rules to attain state approval. The City received a grant from the Washington Department of Ecology to support this update. The grant timeline calls for completing this periodic update by June 30, 2021.
This periodic update WILL:
- Review relevant legislative updates since the 2012 SMP update and incorporate any applicable amendments;
- Ensure consistency with Bremerton’s Comprehensive Plan Update; and
- Ensure compatibility with other City regulations.
This periodic update WILL NOT:
- Re-evaluate the ecological baseline that was established as part of the 2012 SMP update;
- Extensively assess no net loss criteria, other than ensure that proposed amendments do not result in degradation of the baseline condition; or
- Re-assess shoreline jurisdiction.
The City will be using the optional joint review process for amending the SMP per WAC 173-26-104. Learn more about what an optional joint review process is for shoreline master programs
Preview past SMP
- Add legislative changes
- Revise draft
Public Review
- Host open house
- Collect public comments
SMP update adopted
- Review public concerns
- Revise and submit final SMP updates
- Approval and adoption during the first quarter of 2021
- Current Bremerton SMP
- Draft Bremerton SMP Amendments
- Current Bremerton Critical Area Ordinance
- Draft Bremerton Critical Area Ordiance Amendments
- SMP Update Public Participation Plan
- 2021 SMP Update FAQ (PDF)
- 2021 SMP Gap Analysis Document
Planning Commission Meetings
- September 21, 2020 (Workshop)
- Packet and PowerPoint introducing SMP Update
- October 19, 2020 (Workshop)
- Packet and PowerPoint from meeting introducing the SMP Update
- November, 16 2020 (Public Hearing)
- Packet and PowerPoint from the meeting
SMP Proposed Amendments
Below are proposed amendments to five key topical areas presented to the Bremerton Planning Commission on November 16, 2020 (additional amendments are being proposed but are minor and limited in nature). The Bremerton City Council will finalize its decision on the SMP updates during the first quarter of 2021. The following information provides a high-level overview of proposed changes to the five key topical areas. The SMP proposed updates are detailed in the Draft Bremerton SMP Amendments:
Amendment Goal: Provide consistency with State legislative updates which have occurred since the last comprehensive SMP update (8 years ago)
- Key features: Bring Bremerton's SMP up-to-date as required. Examples include revised definition of "Development" and adjustments to the cost thresholds for exemptions and dock construction.
- Specific changes to text regarding the Consistency with State legislative updates to the SMP can be found in Chapter 3, Definitions, and Sections 5.010, 5.090, 5.100, 8.040, and 8.080 of the Draft Bremerton SMP 2020 Amendments.
Amendment Goal: Improve functionality of the SMP. The SMP document can be difficult to work with for both applicants and staff.
- Key features: Includes formatting and wording changes to improve the usability of the SMP. This includes the consolidation of all policies into one section, as well as additional areas, including creating hyperlinks for each Chapter subheading for quick navigation and moving definitions scattered throughout the document to Chapter 3, Definitions, that will be addressed to improve overall usability of the document.
- See Chapter 2, Goals and Policies and Chapter 3, Definitions, in the Draft Bremerton SMP Amendments, for the consolidation of policies and definitions, respectively
Amendment Goal: Improve the mechanism by which shoreline buffer averaging/reduction is conducted. Currently, this process is confusing with a requirement to average the setbacks of multiple neighboring properties.
- Key features: Reduce confusion by limiting buffer averaging to only immediately adjacent properties. Add clarification as to how the buffer reduction mechanism is intended to work in order to ensure preservation of no net loss through appropriate mitigation. This includes providing a suite of defined options with flexibility for the Director.
- Specific changes to text regarding shoreline buffer averaging/reduction in the SMP can be found in Section 7.010 of Draft Bremerton SMP Amendments
Amendment Goal: Clarify thresholds for when the preparation of a Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) is required. Currently, a Vegetation Management Plan is required for any new development and redevelopment, with exceptions for repair, maintenance, and minor expansion.
(Specific changes to text regarding the vegetation management plan in the SMP can be found in Section 7.020 of the Draft Bremerton SMP Amendments)
Amendment Goal: The wetland buffer system in the existing Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) is no longer consistent with the most recent best available science provided by the State.
- Key features: The CAO is proposed to be amended to adjust the wetland buffer table consistent with State regulations based on the most recent best available science. The result is a slight reduction in wetland buffer sizes in most cases. Note, the CAO amendments will need to be adopted prior to or concurrently with the SMP.
- Reference to the Critical Areas Ordinance is located in Section 7.010 of the Draft Bremerton SMP Amendments. Specific changes to text regarding wetland buffer systems in the Draft CAO Amendments can be found in Section Section 20.14.330 of the Draft Bremerton CAO Amendments document. Additional minor clarifications are included in Sections 20.14.730 through 20.14.760.
In addition to the key topic areas listed above, minor updates have been proposed to ensure consistency with existing laws and rules and with other City plans and regulations and improve overall usability of the SMP. You can browse and comment on any or all of the proposed changes listed in the Draft Bremerton SMP Amendments and Draft CAO Amendements document.
Have questions about the amendments?
View our Frequently Asked Questions document or contact a member of our team to learn more.

Feedback
The City accepted public comment on its proposed changes to the SMP between October 23 and November 23, 2020. The public comment period is now closed. The Bremerton City Council will finalize its decision on the SMP updates during the first quarter of 2021.
For additional details on the SMP adoption process, please visit bremertonwa.gov/SMPUpdate.
If you have questions about the SMP update, please contact Garrett Jackson at the City of Bremerton:
Phone: 360-473-5289
Email: Garrett.Jackson@ci.bremerton.wa.us
Contact us!
If you have questions or would like to send your comments via email, please reach out to Garrett Jackson (Senior Planner):
Phone: 360-473-5289
Email: Garrett.Jackson@ci.bremerton.wa.us
*Note: all project communications are treated as public records and may be released consistent with applicable laws.
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