Planning commissioners direct staff to identify Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan actions for inclusion in comprehensive-plan implementation

Thurston County Planning Commission members on March 19 voted to ask staff to review and recommend which actions from the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan (TCMP) should be incorporated into the county comprehensive plan implementation appendix and to add language in the public‑hearing draft expressing the commission's support for implementing TCMP actions.

The commission took the step after an extended public‑comment period in which organizing groups and residents urged the body to make the TCMP a visible, enforceable part of the county's comp‑plan update. Paris McCluskey, community organizer for Thurston Climate Action Team (TCAT), told the commission that the TCMP lists 72 community‑wide actions, and that the current comp‑plan draft includes only a small fraction of items the county previously agreed to pursue: "The current draft includes only 10 TCMP actions that are clearly represented in Thurston County's implementation appendix climate policy actions. There are 40 TCMP actions that are compatible with those listed...but are not included," McCluskey said.

Why it matters: Speakers from TCAT, Black Hills Audubon Society, Restoring Earth Connection and other groups told the commission the TCMP and the county's 2021 climate emergency declaration together create an expectation that specific mitigation actions be visible in the comprehensive plan. Commission members said they wanted a clear crosswalk between TCMP items and the comp‑plan implementation appendix before the public hearing.

Most important facts - The commission approved a motion asking staff to review TCMP items and recommend which of the TCMP's 40 county‑applicable actions should be incorporated into the implementation appendix and which of the 17 items need new sections, and to return recommended draft language for the public‑hearing version. - The commission separately approved an action item to regularly evaluate the TCMP for updates and potential incorporation "as practical." - The commission also approved language to add to the public‑hearing draft stating the planning commission supports implementing TCMP actions and that staff will review and make recommendations.

Public comment and evidence cited Several speakers from local organizations and residents pressed the commission to make the TCMP actions visible and accountable in the comprehensive plan. Lynn Fitzhugh, executive director of Restoring Earth Connection, told commissioners that the TCMP is divided into five strategy areas and includes 72 actionable items and warned that without listing those items "this will remain invisible to you, the planning commission, and to the public, also meaning no accountability to the plan." Betsy Norton of Black Hills Audubon said the TCMP includes "clear, measurable, and shovel ready science based strategies" that the county should adopt to reach net‑zero goals.

Commission discussion and next steps Commissioners debated whether to adopt individual TCMP items verbatim, to adopt by reference, or to ask staff for a staff‑led crosswalk and precise recommended language. Several commissioners favored giving staff a charge to prepare specific language and a crosswalk for the public‑hearing draft rather than directing staff to make unilateral decisions. Staff told the commission the public‑hearing draft must be finalized promptly to allow adequate noticing, and that changes intended for the public‑hearing draft would need to be turned around by the end of the month to appear in an early April hearing packet.

Votes at a glance - Motion (maker: Commissioner Bissner): Ask staff to review and recommend which TCMP items are relevant for inclusion or for creation of new sections and to return draft language for the public‑hearing draft. Outcome: approved by voice vote. - Motion (maker: Commissioner Daniel Bumbar): Add an implementation action to the comp plan to regularly evaluate the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan for potential incorporation "as practical." Outcome: approved by voice vote. - Motion (maker: Commissioner Kelsall): Ask staff to add language to the draft comprehensive plan for public hearing reflecting the planning commission's support for implementing TCMP actions and that staff is reviewing and making recommendations. Outcome: approved by voice vote.

Staff and timeline Staff said they will prepare a crosswalk showing TCMP text alongside current comp‑plan language and suggested draft wording so commissioners can see specific proposed changes. Staff also told commissioners they will attempt to publish key draft materials (including a crosswalk) ahead of the public hearing so the public can comment on the proposed incorporations; the department indicated that substantial changes must be submitted quickly to meet public‑hearing noticing requirements.

The commission's direction does not by itself adopt TCMP measures into county code; it directs staff to prepare recommended language and crosswalks for the public‑hearing draft.

Ending Commissioners said they expected staff to return detailed proposed language and a policy crosswalk before the public hearing so the commission and the public can evaluate proposed incorporations and identify any remaining gaps.