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.
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.
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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: |
- Building and Construction, Title 14
- State Environmental Policy Act, Chapter 17.09
- Critical Areas Ordinance, Chapter 17.15
- Platting and Subdivision Ordinance, Title 18
- Shoreline Master Program for the Thurston Region, Title 19
- 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. |
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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.
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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.
- 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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