Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Planning commission hears strong opposition to redesignating Lakewood shoreline parcel for Edgewater Park
Loading...
Summary
At a joint March 18 hearing, residents and the Gary Oak Coalition urged the Lakewood Planning Commission and Department of Ecology to reject a locally initiated Shoreline Master Program amendment that would redesignate 9132 Edgewater Drive (parcel 3085002170) from shoreline residential to urban park, citing habitat harm and increased stormwater pollution. Staff said the process continues and will return to the commission April 1.
At a joint public hearing March 18, the Lakewood Planning Commission and a Department of Ecology representative heard sustained public opposition to a locally initiated amendment to Lakewood's Shoreline Master Program that would reclassify one parcel at 9132 Edgewater Drive (parcel 3085002170) from "shoreline residential" to "urban park" and fold it into the planned Edgewater Park.
The amendment would align the parcel with the park master plan the city approved in 2024 and could add circulation, parking and a new public boat launch; Department of Ecology approval is required before any change takes effect. Staff told the commission the parcel was purchased by the city in 2024 and that the SMP update process includes a 30-day written comment period that runs through March 31 at 4:30 p.m. and additional review steps by the Planning Commission and City Council.
Opponents said the redesignation risks ecological damage and intensifying motorized use adjacent to sensitive waters. "Putting a boat trailer parking lot is taking away function. It's not adding function," said Christina Manetti of the Gary Oak Coalition, who urged the commission to reject the amendment as drafted and to require habitat restoration and shoreline softening as conditions for any change. Manetti said the party's reading of the plan shows a four-stall boat-trailer lot, a motorized-boat launch and roughly 19 on-street spaces and warned that added impervious surface would increase runoff and contaminants that can harm salmonids.
Edgewater-area resident Haley Ivy described on-site trash, steep slopes and a lack of safe pedestrian access, saying the master plan'as drawn'would replace much existing greenspace with pavement. "This is a terrible idea," Ivy said during the hearing, adding she uses the park nearly every day and worries that proposed paths and parking would damage the park's character and wildlife habitat. James Dunlop, an online commenter, and resident Ibrahim Mirjalidi also urged caution; Mirjalidi described a property dispute and asked for biological studies before advancing the project.
Staff and commissioners responded with procedural clarifications: staff said the shoreline designation is separate from city zoning and noted a concurrent rezoning through the 2026 comprehensive-plan amendments would change the parcel to open space and recreation on the land-use map. When asked about parking numbers, staff said those details were not on hand and pledged to return with specific answers at the commission's next meeting.
The commission closed the hearing and directed staff to return April 1 with follow-up information requested by commissioners. If the commission makes a recommendation, the schedule staff laid out calls for a City Council study session on June 8 and subsequent council action; the amendment would then need final approval from the Washington Department of Ecology to become effective.
Authorities and next steps noted at the hearing included the Shoreline Management Act and the Washington Administrative Code cited by staff (WAC 173-26-201(1)(c)); the public comment window for written submissions closes March 31, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. The Planning Commission will revisit the item at its April 1 meeting.
