Tumwater Planning Commission sets public hearing date for Comprehensive Plan Amendments final docket

Last night, the Tumwater Planning Commission scheduled the hearing for Ordinance No. O2023-002, Final Docket for 2023 Comprehensive Plan Amendments, on December 12 at their next meeting.

Tumwater’s 2023 Final Docket of Comprehensive Plan amendments includes two city-sponsored Comprehensive Plan amendments, which are the adoption of the 2024 – 2029 Six-Year Capital Facilities Plan Update and adoption of the Old Highway 99 Corridor Plan.

Old Highway 99 Corridor Plan

Old Highway 99 is a major transportation corridor connecting Tumwater with Southern communities. Commercial and residential use levels have increased recently, adding commute hours and lengthening vehicle queues during peak hours.

The city conducted studies that suggested expanding the highway to two lanes in either direction, including upgrades such as sidewalks and bike lanes.

“The project that was completed, I believe, about two years ago, widened the road to four lanes to the south of Tumwater Boulevard, so this corridor study picks up where it left off,” said Mary Heather Ames, Assistant Transportation & Engineering Director.

This proposal will adopt the Old Highway 99 Plan to reduce commute times and provide adequate service to a main traffic corridor.

“We’re definitely not only looking at today. We looked at the 2040 horizon here. We have really well taken care of capacity needs for the future of this corridor,” added Ames.

2024 – 2029 Six-Year Capital Facilities Plan Update The city also proposed the amendment to its Six-Year Capital Facilities Plan (CFP) to reflect the most current information.The CFP is updated every two years and is part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan update scheduled for city council consideration this fall. The plan update outlines six-year city expenditures in five categories: general government, transportation, water, sanitary sewer, and storm drain projects.The commission started discussing the 2024 – 2029 CFP last July and discussed the issues of water, sanitary sewer, and storm drain project lists last August.