Coalition to Protect Puget Sound Habitat and Case Inlet Shoreline Association v. Pierce County and Long Branch Shellfish LLC; Ecology (Intervenor)
Reason:
Appeal of Shoreline Substantial Development Permit for creation of a geoduck farm
Closing Comments:
Petitioners challenged Pierce County's issuance of a shoreline substantial development permit (SDP) and a mitigated determination of non-significance (MDNS) under SEPA for the operation of a geoduck farm. The Board concluded that the County appropriately issued the SDP and MDNS, but added some additional conditions, primarily to make the Growers' Code of Practice mandatory rather than optional. One member dissented on the basis that he believed the Petitioners did meet their burden of showing significant adverse impacts in violation of SEPA, and that the SDP was inconsistent with the County Shoreline Master Program.