Thurston County, Washington

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Thurston County Washington

Community Planning and Economic Development

List of Plans, Projects & Programs

Current

Subject  Status Description
Agriculture Program Ongoing A review of land use policies, incentive programs, and permitting processes related to agriculture. 
Annexations Ongoing Thurston county's annexations are managed by Thurston Regional Planning Council. Please visit their annexations website for more details. 
Bar Holdings LLC (Salish Landing): Tumwater UGA Swap, Land Use Plan & Rezoning Amendment Upcoming Applicant-initiated UGA swap in the Tumwater UGA with subsequent land use amendments and rezones.
Black Lake Quarry: Land Use Plan & Rezoning Amendment Upcoming Applicant-initiated land use amendment to rezone approximately 270 acres in the Little Rock area from Rural Residential 1/20 (R1/20) to Rural Resource Industrial (RRI) with a code text amendment to TCC 20.29
Cannabis-Related Code Amendments Upcoming Review existing cannabis regulations in Thurston County Code with subsequent amendments to address community feedback.
Capital Improvement Plan Updating A six-year plan of community investment projects for unincorporated areas of Thurston County. Updated annually.
Code Clarifications & Corrections Annual Update Upcoming Development Code to clarify and correct existing definitions, uses, and/or standards, in Thurston County Code.
Comprehensive Plan Ongoing Thurston County government's 20-year plan to accommodate growth in unincorporated Thurston County. 
Comprehensive Plan and Development Code Dockets Ongoing 2024-2025 Dockets updates, anticipated timelines for updates, docket overviews and public comment links.
Conservation Incentives Ongoing Thurston County government operates programs to reduce urban sprawl, minimize development, maintain open spaces, and protect natural resources. 
Flood Programs-Planning Ongoing Many County departments work on flood-related planning and programs. Find details on the Flood Programs webpage.
Forestry Program Updating Tree canopy assessment and focus on a review of rural tree protection standards throughout Thurston County.
Grand Mound East - Jackson: UGA Amendment Land Use Plan & Rezoning Amendment Updating Applicant-initiated land use amendment to rezone approximately 19.63 acres, east of Grand Mound, from Rural Residential Resource 1 Unit per 5 acres (RRR 1/5) to Rural Resource Industrial (RRI).
Grand Mound West- BLQ & Wilmovsky UGA Amendment Site Specific Map Land Use Plan & Rezoning Amendment Updating Two applicant-initiated land use amendment to rezone approximately 66.53 acres from RRR 1/5 to LI and 28.95 acres from RRR 1/5 to R 4-16/1.
Habitat Conservation Program Ongoing County compliance with Federal endangered species act requirements in affected parts of Thurston County. 
Lacey UGA Joint Code Update Updating Development code for the Lacey Urban Growth Area over the next twenty years.
LRA Community Housing Code Update Updating Development Code to address less restrictive alternative community housing under the purview of the Washington State Department of Corrections.
Martin Way Land Use Plan & Rezoning Amendment Upcoming Applicant-initiated land use amendment to rezone approximately 8.11 acres from Low Density 0-6 (LD) to
Mixed Use High Density Corridor (MHDC) in the Lacey Urban Growth Area.
New Uses & Related Standards Annual Update Upcoming Development Code to modify or add new emerging uses to TC development code(s).
Nisqually Subarea Plan Updating Guides growth and development for the Nisqually area over the next twenty years.
Olympia UGA Joint Code Update Updating Development code for the Olympia Urban Growth Area over the next twenty years.
Permit Review Process Annual Update Upcoming Permit review to rapidly respond to emerging issues, inconsistencies, or redundancies in CPED's application review to provide consistent and reliable service to the public. 
Rainier Joint Plan Upcoming Guides growth and development for the Rainier Urban Growth Area over the next twenty years.
SEPA Comment Period Timelines Upcoming Review potential changes to SEPA comment period timelines.
Shoreline Master Program Updating Building, zoning and land-use regulations for fresh and salt-water shorelines in unincorporated Thurston County. 
Tenino Joint Plan Upcoming Guides growth and development for the Tenino Urban Growth Area over the next twenty years.
Tenino UGA Analysis Upcoming Analyze the City of Tenino's Urban Growth Boundary (UGA) to identify potential changes which may include, but not limited to, expansions, boundary swaps, or no action.
Thurston 2045 Updating Periodic review & update to the Thurston County Comprehensive Plan, including chapters, maps, and related development code.
Transfer or Purchase of Development Rights Upcoming Owners of certain types of working agriculture lands can sell their development rights through two Thurston County programs.
Tumwater UGA Joint Code Update Updating Development code for the Tumwater Urban Growth Area over the next twenty years.

Completed Projects

Subject  Status Description
Code Clarifications & Corrections Completed Updates miscellaneous clerical errors, clarification on expansion of non-conforming non-residential uses and structures, and updates sign board posting procedures.
Emergency Housing Completed Permanent regulations for permitting homeless encampments.
Grand Mound Subarea Plan Completed Guides growth and development for the Grand Mound Urban Growth Area over the next twenty years.
Industrial Lands Completed A study to determine whether an adequate supply of industrial lands exists to accommodate demand.
Lacey Joint Plan Completed Guides growth and development for the Lacey Urban Growth Area over the next twenty years.
Low Impact Development Completed Amend development regulations related to land use and stormwater strategies.
Non-Conforming Code Completed Streamlines permit review process for some small-scale projects.
Olympia Joint Plan Completed Guides growth and development for the Olympia Urban Growth Area over the next twenty years.
Places of Worship Completed Revise code language so that dwelling units be reviewed as an associated use.
Plat Extensions Completed Change the method and duration of extensions for the final approval of preliminary plats (subdivisions).
Pogue Site-Specific Land Use Plan and Rezoning Completed A citizen-initiated proposal that would amend the land use plan and land use designation for an approximately 1.5 acre parcel from  Rural Residential/Resource—One Dwelling Unit Per Five Acres (RRR 1/5) to Neighborhood Convenience Commercial (NC).
Resorts Completed Establish standards that will enable such facilities to offer the full range of standard services.
Smokehouse Completed Add commercial smokehouses as a special use in rural zoning districts.
Tumwater Joint Plan Completed Guides growth and development for the Tumwater Urban Growth Area over the next twenty years.
Wireless Completed Update wireless communication facility codes to be in compliance with federal regulations.
Yelm Joint Plan Completed
Guides growth and development for the Yelm Urban Growth Area over the next twenty years.