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Schedule of Events and History
Public Hearings
The Planning Commission held its public hearing on December 10, 2011, and has made its recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners. The Board of County Commissioners will also hold a public hearing on the Critical Areas Ordinance. Please sign up for our Web mail service to receive updates by e-mail.
Open Houses, October 2010
In October, the Thurston County Planning Department held a series of community open houses regarding updates to the County's Critical Areas Ordinance and prairie habitat protections. The open houses took place October 5 at Great Wolf Lodge, October 7 at the Fairgrounds, October 12 at the Rainier Sportsmans Club, and October 18 at the Thurston County Courthouse.
Public comments have been considered during the drafting of the ordinance language. The comments have also been distributed to the Thurston County Planning Commission and the Thurston Board of County Commissioners.
The process of updating Thurston County's Critical Areas Ordinance
began in 2003. In 2005, the county presented its first version to the
public and held a series of open houses. In August 2005, the Thurston
County Planning Commission held a public hearing to gather more comment
on the draft.
Beginning in 2006, county staff and the Thurston County Planning
Commission made hundreds of revisions to the proposal in response to
public comments; however, work on the project ceased because of budget
and staffing constraints. In early 2010, the Board of County
Commissioners directed staff to create a public process and revisit the
draft ordinance. Staff analysis and public comment suggests that a
significant revision of the 2005 draft is necessary. That process is now
underway. The County Commissioners' goal is to consider and ultimately
adopt an ordinance which brings the county into compliance with state
regulations and is consistent with the latest Best Available Science,
protects critical areas and recognizes the needs of property owners.
In 2010, the County received a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service to amend its Critical Areas Ordinance and incorporate updated
protections for the County's prairie and Oregon white oak ecosystems.
These ecosystems are rapidly disappearing due to development pressures,
and they support a wide array of wildlife including the Mazama pocket
gopher, Taylor's checkerspot butterfly and the Streaked horned lark.
These species are candidates for listing under the Federal Endangered
Species Act.
Contact Us
Interested Parties: Check back with this website for updated information. If you would like to be added to our Web Mail list, please click here. Staff contact: Andrew Deffobis, Associate Planner. Phone: (360) 754-3355, x5467 E-mail: deffoba@co.thurston.wa.us.
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