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What is a docketWhich regulationsWho suggests regulations

Get involvedMore informationOfficial docketPublic notice

2009 Preliminary Docket

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The Preliminary Docket of Development Regulations Amendment Proposals for 2009 has been released for public comment by the Thurston County Board of Commissioners. The Thurston County Board of Commissioners will review the public comments after the review period. Following this review, the Board will make a final decision.  As the schedule of public hearings become available, they will be published in The Olympian, the County's official newspaper and posted on this page. To view the docket, please click on the link below.

2009 Preliminary Docket of Development Code Amendments.

Projects on the preliminary docket were reprioritized into four groups.  The groups include:

Priority A, High Priority Amendments:  Amendments mandated by the state to comply with the Growth Management Act or recent case law, as well as amendments needed to solve a significant issue as directed by the Board.  These items would be taken up as staffing resources permit.

Priority B, Other High Priority Amendments:  Amendments that are intended to address Board policy direction and/or respond to public interests that are not the highest priority.  It is unlikely there will be staffing resources available to process these projects.  They may be addressed throughout the year as part of a higher priority proposal, or as necessary to solve a pressing issue.

Priority C, Medium Priority Amendments:  While necessary, it is unlikely that staffing resources will allow the processing of amendments at this priority level.  These projects may be addressed throughout the year as part of another higher priority proposal, or as necessary to solve a pressing issue.

Priority D, Low Priority Amendments:  As with Priority C projects, it is likely that staffing resources will limit the progression of these amendments through the adoption process.  These projects may be addressed throughout the year as part of another higher priority proposal, or as necessary to solve a pressing issue.

Docket Fact Sheet

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Docket Code Development
The Official Docket of Development Regulations Amendment Proposals for 2008 has been adopted by the Thurston County Board of Commissioners. The Thurston County Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners will review and hold public hearings on the merits of the proposals throughout the remainder of 2008. As the schedule of public hearings become available, they will be published in The Olympian, the County's official newspaper and posted on this page.

To view the official docket for 2008, click on the above tab labeled "Official Docket."

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What is a Docket?
The docket is a list of proposals for making changes to Thurston County’s development regulations. (The County also has a docket for changes to its Comprehensive Plan, described on a separate fact sheet.)

The purpose of the docket is to provide information about potential changes to development regulations that the County is considering. The Board of County Commissioners chooses the topics from a “Preliminary Docket,” maintained year-round, and places them on an Official Docket, which is forwarded to the Thurston County Planning Commission for proposal development and review. This docketing process is used to provide the public with information about and opportunities to participate in the amendment process.

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Which Regulations are Included?
The Washington State Growth Management Act defines development regulations as “…the controls placed on development or land use activities by a county or city, including but not limited to, zoning ordinances, critical areas ordinances, shoreline master programs, official controls, planned unit development ordinances, subdivision ordinances, and binding site plan ordinances together with any amendments thereto.” (RCW 36.70A.030) The portions of the Thurston County Code that are covered by the Development Regulations Docket include the following:

  1. Building and Construction, Title 14
  2. State Environmental Policy Act, Chapter 17.09
  3. Critical Areas Ordinance, Chapter 17.15
  4. Platting and Subdivision Ordinance, Title 18
  5. Shoreline Master Program for the Thurston Region, Title 19
  6. Zoning Ordinance, Titles 20, 21, 22, and 23.
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Who suggests Development Regulation Amendments?
Amendment ideas can come from a variety of sources. The Board of Commissioners can propose changes to development regulations. For the urban growth area zoning ordinances, the city that shares the urban growth area can suggest changes for the County to consider. County staff can suggest changes to address issues that come up during implementation of the regulations. The Thurston County Planning Commission is a citizen group that regularly advises the Board of Commissioners on planning matters and is a source of amendment ideas as well.

Individual citizens or groups can suggest amendments, too. You may suggest the change by filling out a form available at the Permit Assistance Center in the Thurston County Courthouse. Your suggestion may be grouped with other suggestions gathered throughout the year; it could take several months to over a year for any action to be taken. There is no fee for suggesting proposals. The County’s annual budget for amendments will affect the number of amendments considered in any given year. Contact County staff, at the number below, if you are not sure how or when to suggest an amendment. The next docket for amendments proposals will be formed in 2008.

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How can I affect the decisions?
The County provides three opportunities for the public to comment on development regulation amendments under consideration.

  1. The first chance to comment is on the docket itself. County staff maintains a Preliminary Docket at all times, where a suggestion for a development regulation amendment first appears. The public may review this docket upon request. In addition, before deciding to take any action on a proposal, the Board of Commissioners will solicit public comment on Preliminary Docket items. The Board will then set an Official Docket and a new, Preliminary Docket will be started for the following year.

  2. Most of the amendments proposed on the Official Docket are first reviewed by the Thurston County Planning Commission. The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on each amendment proposal, except those items that go directly to the Board for review and hearing. The public hearing is a chance to comment on the merit of the proposal(s) or to suggest changes to the proposals. Comments can be given either in person or in writing.

  3. The Board of Commissioners will also hold a public hearing before making a decision on the amendments. That is the third and last opportunity to comment on amendment proposals.
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How can I get more Information?
Contact the Thurston County Development Services Department for more information about development regulation amendments.  Dockets are available at the Permit Assistance Center,

Contact Jeremy Davis,
(360) 754-3355, ext.7010 davisj@co.thurston.wa.us 

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Thurston County Development Services
2000 Lakeridge Drive SW
Olympia, WA 98502-6045 USA.
(360) 786-5490 TDD line: (360) 754-2933

Email: permit@co.thurston.wa.us