MOSES LAKE - The City of Moses Lake is about 90 percent through the draft for the Shoreline Master Program update, but many of the difficult issues, including buffers, setbacks and docks, still need tweaking.

More than 200 residents, mostly shoreline property owners, attended an open house recently to discuss the proposed draft. Community Development Director Gilbert Alvarado stressed no decisions or recommendations have been made at this time, and the open house was held to introduce the public to the proposed changes.

A Cumulative Impacts Analysis of the shoreline, completed by The Watershed Company, found the standards relating to residential shoreline and wetland buffers, mitigation ratios, docks and the shoreline residential area along the sand dunes are not sufficient to ensure no net loss of ecological functions.

Environmental Planner Amy Summe said the goal of the shoreline program is to ensure no net loss of ecological functions.

The analysis looks at the potential impacts and growth potential along the shoreline.

Although some in attendance were concerned that shoreline rules changes may result in the possibility of no development on some vacant lots, both Summe and Alvarado said this won't be the case.

"It's not a no development scenario," Summe said. "It's just maintaining ecological function with development."

Alvarado added the goal is to ensure no lots will be "unbuildable," and the updated plan should add some efficiency and predictability for future shoreline development.

"We know that new shoreline development is anticipated and we're trying to plan for that," Alvarado said.

Once the new rules are enacted, any new development would be reviewed for a permit based on those rules, Alvarado said.

The analysis also showed, based on ecological characteristics, that the current buffer of 25 feet from the shoreline is consistent with existing conditions, but several buffer areas may need to be extended, especially in areas where wetlands are present and shoreline near the sand dunes area.

Summe said the dunes area has a very unique habitat and the current plan does not have a specific set of standards that show it would be protected if developed.

Buffer zones could be extended in the dunes area and several wetland areas to ensure ecological functions are protected.

"Most of the city's shoreline is in some sort of residential designation and there's a considerable amount of vacant parcels and undeveloped land," Summe said, adding there is a great potential for new docks that could have a negative impact on ecological functions.

About 60 percent of the shoreline properties currently have docks, Summe said.

"It looks like there's considerable potential for new docks and without some sort of additional standards, it looks like there could be a net loss of ecological function just related to proliferation of docks around the lake," she said.

Any update to the Shoreline Master Program must be approved by the state Department of Ecology. The proposed rules would only pertain to shoreline within the city limits, but the Urban Growth Area is included in case of future annexation.

Alvarado said the city plans to hold another open house before any recommendations are made to City Council for approval, and plans to further outline concerns at the next meeting.

The draft plan can be found at www.cityofml.com/smp.