A working group of Burien residents has come up with a compromise Burien Shoreline Master Program that they say is likely to be approved by the state Department of Ecology (DOE).

DOE has objected to four proposals in the city’s submitted SMP plan. The state must sign off on Burien’s plan before it takes effect.

The largest sticking point is setback requirements along the city’s Puget Sound shoreline.

Burien established a 20-foot setback between the ordinary high water mark and development. But DOE is insisting on a 50-foot buffer and an additional 15-foot setback along the developed shoreline.

Michael Noakes, chair of the working group, told Burien City Council members Sept. 17 that his committee is suggesting that the developed areas along the Sound be split up into zones.

In area’s along the Sound that have been highly altered, adverse conditions in the 20 feet nearest the water would be strictly limited. In the next zone of 15 feet, adverse effects would be allowed if they were mitigated in the first zone nearest the water.

For areas that have been less altered, the first zone nearest the water would be set at 30 feet with the second zone set at 15 feet.

Ways to mitigate adverse conditions in Zone 2 would include adding more native vegetation or removing impervious surfaces in Zone 1, according to Noakes.

Noakes emphasized that the city has already said that all existing structures along the shoreline can be maintained and reconstructed in the same footprint, subject only to zoning laws. These structures would not be considered “nonconforming,” he added.

Applicants seeking a building permit for development along the shoreline could hire a qualified consultant to create a site-specific plan or refer to a simplified spreadsheet under the group’s plan.

Noakes noted the group has been working closely with DOE officials in coming up with the compromises.

According to the committee’s report, “These documents were subject to a preliminary review at DOE and the feedback that we received was extremely encouraging.

“It was suggested that, once completed and finalized, these concepts were likely to be approvable during a formal review sequence if the Burien Council makes the decision to submit a SMP update based on this work.”

Under the group’s plan, Zone 1 on Lake Burien would be 30 feet and Zone 2, 15 feet. In the Urban Conservancy area, Zone 1 would 50 feet and Zone 2 would be 100 feet.

Another sticking point between the city and DOE involved the launching of boats on Lake Burien from public access areas. The city wanted to ban the boats. The group agreed with DOE that it would be premature to place the ban on the city’s SMP until the public access points are established.

Councilmember Joan McGilton called the group’s report “an amazing piece of work.”

Committee members are Burien Marine Homeowners Association president Noakes, former Lake Burien Shore Club president Don Warren, City Councilmember Gerald Robison and at-large member Lee Moyer.