County sets public hearing for Planning Commission changes as it transitions to 5-member board

The current Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will hold a public hearing on September 19, Monday to get the community's insights on the proposed changes for the Planning Commission as Thurston County transitions to a five-member board.

The draft amendments address the changes needed to the Planning Commission following the transition of the BOCC from a three-member to a five-member board, which will be effective on January 1, 2024, Thurston's Community Planning and Economic Development Operations Manager Jeremy Davis said.

"This is important to all of our citizens in Thurston County… It's key to our economic success and each citizen's economic success," said Davis.

The proposed amendments include changes to the apportionment of appointees, term of office, initial and future appointment of new planning commissioners, expiration of current terms, and other matters related to the commission.

According to the current rules under Thurston County Code Chapter 2.04, the Planning Commission should have nine members assigned equally to each commissioner district. There must be at least two members living in each commissioner district at the time of appointment and one at large.

The commissioners, who work voluntarily for the County, serve six years, and terms are staggered.

If the proposed amendments are approved, there should be one district commissioner and four at-large members. The terms of each commissioner would also be reduced to four years each.

It is also proposed that the BOCC rescind the current appointments and replace them with new members, effective January 1, 2024.

"Current members, of course, would be encouraged to reapply for new positions on the new reconstituted Planning Commission," said Davis.

The Planning Commission is a volunteer citizen group that advises the county on land use, development, and zoning regulations.