Mason County adopts revised countywide planning policies; public hearing draws no in-person testimony

Mason County commissioners approved a revised set of countywide planning policies Tuesday as part of the county—wide comprehensive plan update, concluding a public hearing that drew no in-person testimony.

Marissa, county planning staff, told the board the draft policies were revised by SCJ Alliance in response to changes to the Growth Management Act and to clarify policy statements. Staff said the Planning Advisory Commission (PAC) reviewed the draft at three meetings (August, October and November 2024), addressed public comments in a matrix and voted to recommend approval of the revised policies as a standalone document. Staff also submitted the required 60-day notice to the Washington State Department of Commerce and received one comment that was addressed in the draft shown to the commission.

During deliberation, commissioners asked for clarification about references to "climate justice" and about the scope of the climate element required this planning cycle. Marissa said the county—s climate planning action team is reviewing the emergency-management plan and state guidance to identify where additional planning and protections may be needed, including attention to communities disproportionately burdened by flooding or wildfire risk and to the placement of housing and facilities. Commissioners emphasized that the board intended to do only what is mandated by state law and that more detailed decisions would come later in the comp-plan process.

The board voted to approve the countywide planning policies as a standalone document with the amendments shown in Attachment 1.

Background

County staff said the draft policies were developed with the county's consultant SCJ Alliance and reviewed by county staff, state agencies, cities and tribes. The PAC reviewed the draft and public comments across multiple meetings in 2024; the PAC's final review in November resulted in a recommendation to adopt the policies.

Next steps

With the BOCC approval, staff will proceed with the comprehensive-plan update process consistent with Growth Management Act requirements; additional chapters, public notices and hearings will follow according to the county's project schedule.

Votes and motions

- Motion to approve countywide planning policies as a standalone document with amendments as presented (motion and second recorded on Jan. 21, 2025); outcome: approved (voice vote). Yes: 3; No: 0; Abstain: 0.

Clarifying detail

Commissioners asked staff to provide additional timeline details about the climate planning action team's work; staff said the county had completed two action-team meetings and expected more meetings and materials to follow.