Joint Plans outline land-use and development policies in the urban growth areas (UGAs) of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater. Urban growth areas are unincorporated parts of the county that may be annexed by  a city in the future. The county works with city governments to make future development more predictable for citizens who live in those areas, and smoother when annexation occurs. Joint plans are part of the Comprehensive Plan, and are updated regularly.

• ​Lacey Joint Plan

  • Review of this plan is scheduled to begin later this year.
     

• ​Olympia Joint Plan

  • See the Olympia joint plan presentation storymap to learn more.
  • Plan includes
    • A land use amendment for Glenmore Village subdivision. See the the Glenmore Village presentation storymap
    • Fixes seven zoning boundaries that were out of alignment on the Olympia UGA map. See Attachment C below.
    • New calculations for population, housing, land inventory.
    • New goals & policies. 
    • Largely based on the Olympia Comprehensive Plan.
  • Project timeline
    • Early 2023 - Planning Commission recommendation to Board of County Commissioners.
    • January 25, 2023-Planning Commission work sessions.
    • November 30, 2022 - Planning Commission Public Hearing.
    • October/November 2022 - Planning Commission Work Sessions.
  • Documents
    • 10-11-2022 - Planning Commission Memo
    • 10-26-2022 - Planning Commission Memo
    • 11-30-2022 - Joint Public Hearing staff report
    • 1-25.2023 - Planning Commission Memo
      • Attachment A: Draft Olympia Joint Plan
      • Attachment B: UGA Focus Area Maps
      • Attachment C: Zoning Map Corrections
      • Attachment D: Draft TCC 23.05
      • Attachment E: Draft SEPA Environmental Checklist
      • Official Zoning Map for Thurston County, Washington, North County UGA Zoning Map
      • DNS and Environmental Checklist

• Tumwater Joint Plan

  • Project timeline
    • On November 30, 2021, the Board of County Commissioners voted 2-1 to repeal and replace the Tumwater Joint Plan. 
    • The plan was first adopted in 1995 with a minor update in 2009. 
  • Plan includes
    • Five land-use zoning amendments and an amendment to the Airport Hazard Overlay. 
  • Documents
    • Tumwater Joint Plan - Adopting Resolution 16091
    • Tumwater Joint Plan - Adopting Ordinance 16092 
    • 2021 Tumwater Joint Plan 
    • Tumwater Joint Plan Appendices 
    • Tumwater Joint Plan Land Use and Zoning Amendment Maps 
    • Tumwater Joint Plan Future Land Use and Sub-area Maps 

More About the Joint Planning Process

Joint Plans are developed in collaboration with community members, city governments, and the county government. The process includes multiple opportunities for community input. Plans are separate documents within the Thurston County Comprehensive Plan, and also in Olympia, Tumwater, and Lacey Comprehensive Plans. They are reviewed by the City Planning Commission, the Thurston County Planning Commission, the City Council, and the Board of County Commissioners. The final adoption comes from Thurston's Board of County Commissioners, which adopts Joint Plans as part of the Thurston County Comprehensive Plan.