Commissioners hear Thurston 2045 Comprehensive Plan update 

Thurston County’s Community Planning and Economic Development Department (CPED) reported to the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) about the Thurston 2045 periodic update to the comprehensive plan. 

CPED Interim Director Ashley Arai updated the board on the most recent work done, timeline, major public comment themes, and housing allocation inter-jurisdictional work and environmental review. 

The Planning Commission has 20 work sessions, 21 including this meeting.  The remaining topics throughout the end of the year are housing policies and code updates, climate, transportation, and implementation plans. 

“500 comments have been shared so far, we have attended 39 events, we’ve held our own listening sessions and community forums, and we’ve thought of having two more in the coming months,” said Arai. 

Most of the public comments said that no more than 5% of housing should be in rural areas, and to plan for housing to be near services. 

From the land use perspective, the community suggested adopting policies on Urban Growth Area (UGA) swaps before considering them and updating the language for rural industrial designations. 

Regarding climate matters, residents said they want the plan to integrate climate mitigation, support electronic vehicle (EV) infrastructure and building retrofits, and consider impacts on wildlife and habitat. 

About the update 

Thurston 2045 is the county’s major update to its Comprehensive Plan. This periodic review is due on December 31 next year.  The update accounts for county growth over the next 20 years and aligns the Comprehensive Plan with new changes in state law.

According to the agenda document, updates include: 

• an update to background information across the plan;  

• updated population projections, densities, and building intensities;  

• updated goals, objectives, and policies;  

• an updated housing element to plan and accommodate housing affordable to all economic segments of the population;  

• reviewing policies to identify and address racially disparate impacts;  

• an updated inventory of transportation facilities and services;  

• updated level of service standards;  

• a new climate change element;  

• a new implementation plan; 
• and updated development regulations.