Environmentally friendly materials and methods for dock construction have helped to improve fish habitat and to restore shorelines over the past fourteen years. They have also contributed to the 550% increase in the cost of these projects for the same time period. Docks that were previously exempt from the shoreline substantial development permit are now subject to it, only because of their dramatically increased costs. This permit requirement adds time, cost and uncertainty to their construction.
SPOCA is lobbying the Washington State legislature during the 2007 session to increase the threshold for exempting docks from the substantial development permit under the Shoreline Management Act. SPOCA is requesting a new threshold of a maximum amount of square feet, in order to avoid future changes due to inflation and other monetary factors.
Watch this web page for updates on the status of this effort and to get involved by contacting your legislator.
