[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6221741,"mediaKeyId","3611570-53293f72a1cb916edd31bf3d2721c7a9","parentId",3611570,"title","Thurston Regional Planning Council outlines interim Regional Transportation Plan update; final action expected July","audioSeconds",1121,"startMs",3975000,"endMs",5096000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3611570-53293f72a1cb916edd31bf3d2721c7a9&start=3975&end=5096","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3611570-53293f72a1cb916edd31bf3d2721c7a9/thumbnail_3975000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6221741/Lacey/Thurston-County/Washington/Thurston-Regional-Planning-Council-outlines-interim-Regional-Transportation-Plan-update-final-action-expected-July","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221741-37e395a0bbb6e5d004bd064514324f57/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148304&Signature=m-k7Hmx0Nj-QzL-UO3Pe-oGSJOnmxGdPsMEebj76trpIvKRHVzfdKvROLfv48HuZ2DCtR7atpcUBofwWnRFGODILdz2k0btVXh3o~oUYSm82vHYwkFAgXvAu0qEkFr~J06Q7htAGLUBJoCZprbsbO6iFXPNXd9m9LFAV7rDPOP~qFfAZrEHHE5FqRY5WTuN3Q~dWlborEvx2SMVNgPy~SRNir-Cs2V1A1yzF0ZWuyRhF~qwtZN1oaYg4DzYCAh42qWAUUYcQTWh8yyA7v4VH264Vfl6aZJ~ZvWKnHKq2NYJNWVvln63zbMu55lH5fcOODVSM3YuAjTzZwJsgUTZEwA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Lacey, WA","date","2025-05-30T17:13:11.4Z","article","A representative of the Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) presented an interim update to the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) at the Lacey Planning Commission meeting on May 28 and described regional projects, targets and recent public comments.

\"Our region's planned land use and roadway capacity improvements alone will not be sufficient to meet our regionally adopted targets,\" Allison Osterburn, planning manager at TRPC, told the commission. The RTP looks ahead to 2050, addresses multiple modes (driving, walking, biking, transit, marine and air), and must be financially constrained — meaning the plan includes projects TRPC expects can be funded over the planning horizon.

Osterburn said the RTP includes about 80 regional projects intended to address future needs, including multimodal improvements such as College Street widening, Martin Way/I‑5 interchange work, Marvin Road widening, new street connections in Hawkes Prairie and extensions to regional trails (including the Karen Fraser Woodland Trail). The plan also identifies transit projects, including an East Spartan Way Gateway transit facility and potential expansion of Intercity Transit's intercounty express service.

TRPC staff described the update as interim in this cycle because many jurisdictions — including Lacey — are revising comprehensive plans simultaneously. TRPC ran a public comment period from April 11 to May 9 and received nearly 300 comments; the most frequent topic was Log Cabin Road extension and its potential impact on LBA Woods Park, a controversial issue tied to land use and connectivity in southeast Olympia.

Osterburn said the council expects to take final action on the RTP in July and that TRPC will return responses to public comments to the transportation policy board in June. She noted the plan contains new material on safety, equity and climate-related planning and emphasized the regional nature of many projects: \"We look a lot at how to plan together on the local and state networks as a cohesive system.\"

Commissioners asked about the plan's financial forecast and the sources of funding; Osterburn said the forecast includes local, state and federal sources and that the RTP is constrained to projects that have realistic funding paths. A commissioner asked whether recent changes at the federal level or within FTA funding could reduce expected funds; TRPC staff said there is uncertainty but no immediate change to the region's funding forecast as of the RTP release.

Commissioners also discussed transit efficiency, fleet options and system redesign: TRPC noted Intercity Transit is pursuing service changes and fleet electrification over time; a member of Intercity Transit present at the meeting offered to brief the commission on operational and service-design issues in a future meeting.

No formal action was taken by the Planning Commission on the RTP update; TRPC is scheduled to present final materials to its council for adoption in July.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning Commission May 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Thurston Regional Planning Council briefed the Lacey Planning Commission on an interim update to the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) covering needs to 2050, including 80 regionally significant projects, public comment results and an expected TRPC council approval in July.","taxTitle","Lacey, Thurston County, Washington","taxId",4615,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6221745,"Planning Commission reviews proposed change to sign code to allow political signs in certain rights-of-way",1060,2908000,3968000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3611570-53293f72a1cb916edd31bf3d2721c7a9&start=2908&end=3968","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3611570-53293f72a1cb916edd31bf3d2721c7a9/thumbnail_2908000.jpg","/articles/6221745/Lacey/Thurston-County/Washington/Planning-Commission-reviews-proposed-change-to-sign-code-to-allow-political-signs-in-certain-rights-of-way","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221745-769d06ed3ccac628c969e7a195c81e01/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148304&Signature=O3MlJ5-qI561i~5jYSyncfqQjLPv093SZZAu-WrSL4-6fDx6Nqyl4Mvbyqq7OcrqZIh7v-7r0ImH94ks-fmdBJQqnB6uBwloU3gyLq0hNElF7dqkSn-c30TOG4NSEjKL98H7uVLuw1CPXCg6j-2Bdbm~tZkmQ~7AyzkmwwrcPJiW~rJBHa6sslveS3MeapDrwAQQfQKdrOECbQWIl2Lx8ngQgMzeEq3ydOB4QF6xpKfMErslDIPwgs2s83Ho3dzdGXZZ~~uPn1XaMJ2h2l-pTwTl1dth12yldB6yeE0hGO-f8FMkozjTY~ZPuu~LA9KvD~xZ-0B-vdmwLBgovkHChQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City legal counsel presented a proposed amendment to the Lacey sign regulations at the Planning Commission meeting on May 28 that would allow political signs in portions of the public right-of-way adjacent to private property, reversing the current blanket prohibition on signs in rights-of-way.

\"We're proposing this because we feel this amendment would help ensure that Lacey sign code aligns with constitutional standards,\" said Dave Schneider, attorney, identifying the code section under discussion as Lacey Municipal Code 16.75.0.1. Schneider told the commission the change would not alter existing size, duration or safety standards elsewhere in the code but would remove the location-based ban that confined political signage to private property only.

Schneider said the proposed amendment would still prohibit signs on rights-of-way adjacent to public property because that would conflict with Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) rules regarding use of public facilities. The language in the draft limits the allowance to rights-of-way adjacent to private property and leaves other sign-size and safety rules in place.

Commissioners raised several concerns. Multiple members expressed safety and visibility concerns about allowing 10-square-foot signs in areas near intersections and roundabouts and asked whether the city could craft heightened size or placement restrictions specifically for signs placed in the public right-of-way. One commissioner asked whether flags or other flexible signage types were covered by the safety provisions; Schneider replied that safety and sight‑triangle restrictions elsewhere in the code would still apply and that code enforcement could remove signs that violate those safety provisions.

Commissioners also asked how the amendment would affect homeowner associations and whether private property owners would have the ability to refuse signs placed on adjoining rights-of-way; Schneider said the property owner would still control use of the property beneath an easement and could refuse a sign placed adjacent to their parcel. Commissioners asked about post-election cleanup; Schneider noted the code already requires political signs to be removed within seven days of an election and said enforcement and cleanup remain concerns raised by residents.

Several commissioners asked staff and the attorney to return to the public hearing with additional information and recommended criteria tied to traffic safety and sight lines so the city could show a clear basis for any heightened restrictions. Schneider said the city could consider narrowly tailored limits (for example, smaller maximum sign sizes in rights-of-way) but cautioned that any restriction must meet the constitutional scrutiny required for regulations in a traditional public forum.

The commission concurred that the item should proceed to a public hearing; staff indicated the hearing would be scheduled for June 11. No vote was taken on the amendment at the May 28 meeting; commissioners requested additional background and safety-related evidence be provided at the public hearing.

The proposed change and the public hearing will be noticed according to the city's standard procedures.","City attorney presented a proposed amendment to Lacey Municipal Code 16.75.0.1 to permit political signs in portions of the public right-of-way adjacent to private property; Planning Commission asked for additional detail on safety, size limits, cleanup and HOA implications before a scheduled public hearing June 11.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6221750,"Consultants present 5-year economic development strategy; public engagement to begin July",1459,479000,1938000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3611570-53293f72a1cb916edd31bf3d2721c7a9&start=479&end=1938","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3611570-53293f72a1cb916edd31bf3d2721c7a9/thumbnail_479000.jpg","/articles/6221750/Lacey/Thurston-County/Washington/Consultants-present-5-year-economic-development-strategy-public-engagement-to-begin-July","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221750-b28fa7526a859198820cc127095930fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148304&Signature=IYELkOKnJP93DB1SLq8Qj-sVeJEWpe-QQvfgtmKZVuEGWgECOUbqdHGzC6JGx6c~Yuaii2JDIDqSIVUPgNc~Olsicj8eLCoUdlEF94gYUnbwnegBOnh~ESshomWD9EZljOy~qh3vPMNp-HBIvaqxtVVFdY9XAVnr75b~wnZ5OaDb366L6h37G35HQtKhGp1dDJvw1G7O9loWFE4E-qHBQBlYrQ6sqnSlbOyBpFvBoY3R8L-grwVJf3cVojgRsTxyniReao2gXUox-LIwnA3QqK1QfbJQLmtQAG3Tpz--08bFIKsHEYKOf8v4~Ys0ax~pOfh5WChTjHfMrJiG03VNNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Echo Northwest consultants presented a draft five-year economic development strategy to the Lacey Planning Commission on May 28, describing short- and medium-term actions the city could take to implement goals in the comprehensive plan.

The proposal, led by Britney Bagens, project director for Echo Northwest, and James Kim, project manager, is intended to produce an actionable set of priorities for city staff over the next five years and to guide implementation of economic development goals that the commission recently reviewed as part of the comprehensive plan update.

\"If we do our jobs well, we will equip staff, and you all with, with some strong recommendations to to accomplish in the next 5 years,\" Britney Bagens said during the presentation. James Kim summarized early data findings: \"Your community has grown a lot and it's changing and it's changing quickly,\" citing population aging, increasing racial/ethnic diversity and a trend toward smaller households.

Echo Northwest described a three-phase project: research and analysis (already underway), stakeholder engagement this summer, and strategy development through fall. Key deliverables the consultants listed include a short menu of action-oriented goals for staff, identification of partner organizations for implementation, and measurable success metrics. The city staff member who introduced the presentation said the plan will be packaged for review by the Commission on Equity, with a target for the comprehensive-plan website and public comment opening around July 1.

On the data side, consultants highlighted: Lacey's economy operates in a regional context with many residents commuting outside the city for work and others commuting in; major employment concentrations are in education, health care and government (driven in part by nearby Olympia and Joint Base Lewis-McChord); retail \"surplus\" categories where people come into Lacey include general merchandise and sporting goods; and Midtown shows above-average retail and office vacancy compared with the county though recent and prospective redevelopment was noted.

Commissioners asked about methodology and sources, including Placer.ai foot-traffic data and distinctions between brick-and-mortar versus online sales tax receipts; consultants described limitations of cell-phone based mobility datasets and confirmed sales tax is collected to the sale destination. Commissioners also asked how stakeholders were selected; staff said the city has been making introductions to a short list of priority interviewees and a recurring advisory group that will meet several times during the process.

Echo Northwest and staff stressed that the strategy is intended to be implementable rather than an exhaustive research report, and that recommendations will include sequencing (what to pursue in year one to succeed in later years). The consultants said the public outreach program will include one-on-one interviews, an advisory committee, and a community \"roadshow\" beginning in July; a public hearing on implementation items is expected in early fall as the plan moves toward council review.

Commissioners asked about senior services, auto dealerships, and Midtown walkability; consultants said those topics will be probed in stakeholder interviews and in subarea analysis as the work continues.

No formal action was taken by the Planning Commission at the May 28 meeting; staff and consultants will continue engagement and return with materials as work progresses.

The consultants asked commissioners for feedback on data and recommended priorities before the advisory group begins regular meetings.","Consultants from Echo Northwest briefed the Lacey Planning Commission on a draft five-year economic development strategy tied to the comprehensive plan, outlining data findings, priority actions, and upcoming stakeholder outreach and public review starting July 1.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Thurston Regional Planning Council outlines interim Regional Transportation Plan update; final action expected July

Planning Commission reviews proposed change to sign code to allow political signs in certain rights-of-way

Consultants present 5-year economic development strategy; public engagement to begin July