Community Development director briefs council on 2024 workload, code updates and housing targets

Community Development Director Mike Matlock told the Tumwater City Council on April 1 that his department completed major permitting work in 2024 while advancing a multi-year comprehensive plan and habitat-conservation effort.

Matlock said long-range planning comprises roughly one-third of the department while development-review functions (building, inspections, plan review) make up the remaining two-thirds. He told council the department issued a high volume of permits last year and managed a substantial inspection workload while moving forward on a 10‑year comprehensive plan update that will accommodate about 21,000 additional people (roughly 9,000 housing units) over the next 20 years.

Why this matters: The comprehensive plan and development regulations guide where housing, commercial development and public infrastructure may be built. Matlock said the plan update touches housing, transportation, climate and habitat conservation and will shape growth for the next two decades.

Key points and metrics

- Permit activity: Matlock reported permit counts rising over time: 477 (2004), 868 (about 10 years later), 1,598 in 2019 and 1,557 in the most recent year; the department performs both small and large permit reviews. - Building activity and valuation:…