Planning commissioners advance Thurston 2045 draft: add equity mapping, tighten farm‑land protections and defer some development‑code size limits

The Thurston County Planning Commission continued its multi‑session review of the Thurston 2045 comprehensive plan draft, approving several language changes and identifying follow‑up work for staff while deferring other code‑level decisions to future development‑regulation work.

Maya Tepel, senior planner, led the session’s review of staff responses to public comments and described edits already made to the land‑use and natural‑resources chapters. Tepel said staff added clarifying language around a target of reducing rural growth toward a 5% rural share, updated crosswalks showing comment responses, and incorporated technical suggestions from state agencies where they aligned with county policy.

Key outcomes and staff directions

- Farm‑ and forest‑land protections: Commissioners objected to staff language that used stronger phrasing ("does not interfere") and that broadened the policy beyond residential uses. After discussion the commission agreed to revise Policy A1‑6(k) to read in part that development and operation of uses near designated long‑term agriculture, forestry, mineral and other natural resource lands should “minimize potential conflicts, encourage the…