Tumwater discusses Lands for Public Purposes and Utilities elements of 2025 Comprehensive Plan

Housing and Land Use Planner Erika Smith-Erickson briefed the Tumwater Planning Commission on the Lands for Public Purposes and Utilities elements of its 2025 Comprehensive Plan periodic update on Tuesday, November 28.

The Growth Management Act (GMA) Conservation Goals include Urban Growth, which encourages development in urban areas, and Public Facilities and Services which ensure that public facilities and services necessary to support development shall be adequate.

“The Lands for Public Purposes element ensures that services such as water, sewer, stormwater, fire, and police protection are adequate and can support the community over the next 20 years,” Smith-Erickson said.

“The Utilities element ensures utility services provided by the private sector such as natural gas, electricity or telecommunication services can support community growth and development over the next 20 years,” added Smith-Erickson.

The 2016 version of the Lands for Public Purposes element has an inventory of existing capital facilities owned by public entities and a forecast of the future needs for such capital facilities, while the 2016 Utilities element discusses the general location, proposed location, and capacity of all existing and proposed private utilities.

The Tumwater Planning Commission received a briefing from Erika Smith-Erickson, Housing and Land Use Planner on the Lands for Public Purposes and …

Here are the 2025 topics to address as part of the update:

1. Lands for Public Purposes Element:

• Address Organics Management Facility Siting
• Update inventory and projected needs for public buildings, facilities, and services over the 20-year planning period
• Use the updated City and urban growth area 20-year population forecasts
• Update provisions for protection of the quality and quantity of groundwater used for public water supplies

• Allow expansion of the area in the city that would allow for essential public facilities such as inpatient facilities as part of the Planning Commission’s 2022 Comprehensive Plan amendment cycle recommendations

• Group A water system plans must include climate resilience element if initiated after June 30, 2024

2. Utilities Element:

• Include all electrical, telecommunication, and natural gas systems and make a good faith effort to gather information from them (E2SHB 1181)

• Update general location, proposed location and capacity of all existing and proposed gas, electric, cable television, and telecommunications to year 2045

• Update wireless telecommunication facilities information as needed
• Update the general location, proposed location, and capacity of all existing and proposed utilities

• Incorporate provisions of the updated 2023 Hazard Mitigation Plan as appropriate
• Update Maps