Lacey City Council, Planning Commission review 2026 planning priorities 

The City of Lacey is preparing for a 2026 planning workload driven by state mandates on housing, parking and child care.  

City officials presented a docket and work program to the Lacey City Council and Lacey Planning Commission members during a joint work session on Tuesday, Feb. 10. 

The work program serves as a roadmap for priority items staffers will address this year using limited resources. It was previously reviewed by the planning commission at prior work sessions in December and January. 

Community Planning Manager Ryan Andrews said the plan balances state requirements with community priorities, noting the city is shifting from comprehensive planning mandates to implementation mandates. 

The docket identifies eight state-mandated code amendments as high priority: co-living housing, child care centers, parking updates, accessory dwelling unit (ADU) updates, middle housing, permanent supportive housing, homeless encampments on religious property and conversion of existing buildings to housing. 

Commission Chair Jeffrey Gadman provided context on the shift in state policy. He said the Washington State Legislature grew frustrated in 2021 with how slowly jurisdictions adopted housing tools, triggering a change from permissive to mandatory laws starting in 2022. 

Andrews said several mandated items are overdue because city staffers focused on the comprehensive plan update. 

Optional code amendments 

Optional code amendments on the priority list include street merchant regulations, mobile home park protections and tree standard updates. 

Mayor Andy Ryder highlighted residential lot tree requirements as urgent, saying homeowners in older neighborhoods with healthy trees that constantly drop limbs face safety concerns. 

Two items marked as medium priority, however, did not make the work program. A home energy score model ordinance and battery energy storage systems regulations remain on the docket for future consideration. City staffers said adding either one would require removing other priorities. 

Council member Carolyn Cox raised concerns about the home energy score ordinance, noting the Thurston Climate Mitigation Collaborative (TCMC) has made it a priority. 

Director of Community and Economic Development Vanessa Dolbee recommended a wait-and-see approach. She proposed keeping the item on a running list, letting other jurisdictions move forward first, and then revisit it in 2027. 

In addition, the program also includes a two-year project to update the Martin Way corridor zoning code, which was last revised around 1994. The update would align with a planned annexation of the corridor. City staffers also anticipate up to three private comprehensive plan map amendments and rezone requests. 

Long-range planning 

Meanwhile, eight long-range planning items made the priority list. Climate-related priorities include the TCMC work plan, an urban forestry management plan update, Energize Thurston, a climate resiliency education campaign, energy audits and solar feasibility studies. 

Andrews announced the city received $350,000 in Climate Commitment Act funding from the state for climate programs over the next 18 months. 

A planned annexation of approximately 10,000 residents will proceed as a two-year project. The annexation includes the Martin Way corridor and builds on a 2025 Urban Growth Area Financial Study. 

In a related development, Thurston County is also moving to adopt the Lacey Municipal Code as reference for zoning regulations, Andrews noted. The change would eliminate prolonged delays in regulatory alignment between the jurisdictions. 

Concerns 

City Manager Rick Walk noted the challenge of implementing mandates while the state continues adding requirements. He said legislators lack patience when they do not see the previous year's work come to fruition. 

Planning Commissioner Robert Lane said many mandates are unfunded and allow certain housing types without guaranteeing results. He noted the city only has about 20 ADUs despite existing regulations permitting them. 

Deputy Mayor Malcolm Miller raised questions about mobile home park protections, asking what level of protection the city is expected to provide. Dolbee said city staffers allocated significant time for the item because multiple options need exploration. 

Items remaining on the docket include rooftop solar requirements, resilience hubs, wildland urban interface standards and live-work units. 

The work program will advance to a future consent agenda for formal adoption. Any subsequent additions or removals will require approval from the city council.