The Thurston 2045 comprehensive plan update drew a broad cross-section of public testimony on Nov. 4 as the Board of County Commissioners closed a lengthy third public hearing and signaled it will hold follow-up work sessions before a final decision scheduled for Dec. 16.

Planning Director Ashley Arai summarized the multi-year process and engagement to date, noting more than 60 community events and extensive Planning Commission review. "Since 2022, the CPED team has hosted over 60 community engagement opportunities," Arai said, and the plan remains open to revision before final adoption.

Key themes from public testimony

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs): Mixed views. Realtor Jessica Grubb urged the county to allow larger detached ADUs and fewer location restrictions, arguing the draft cap of 800 square feet and a 100-foot proximity requirement for attached units will block viable housing. "The proposed limit of 800 square feet is unnecessarily restrictive," Grubb said, and she asked the board to permit placement where wells, septic and other site constraints make sense.

Opposing many of the same proposals, several conservation and neighborhood speakers asked the board to keep detached ADUs out of rural areas. South Sound Bird Alliance speaker Sarah Parsons said attached ADUs are preferable in rural zones because detached units "are not a good fit for the rural area because of the need for more impervious surface and often separate water, septic or stormwater facilities."

Cluster development and rural density bonuses: Several commenters asked the board to defer new cluster development allowances and density bonuses for rural parcels. Opponents argued earlier code changes that tightened cluster bonuses reduced rural housing growth and helped conserve farmland and forest; advocates for deferment said the county should allow a full public review and Planning Commission red-line edits before changing policy.

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS): Multiple speakers urged stronger local safeguards. Tamara Haight recommended mandatory third-party plume and sound modeling, larger setbacks from residences, and clearer enforcement steps in case of fire or noise violations. She said the county should "learn from" incidents elsewhere and update standards accordingly. Brian Haight, a former statewide compliance manager with labor and industries, said BESS installations have had a measurable fire incidence and cautioned that units sited closer to residential areas could increase risk.

Farmland, mineral lands and rural industrial uses: Speakers representing conservation and agricultural interests urged stronger protections for farmland and urged against allowing generic warehouses and data centers in rural and resource zones. Lakeside Industries and other landowners asked the board to retain flexibility to consider future urban growth area (UGA) adjustments but not to pre-determine outcomes in the plan.

Housing supply and equity: South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity and United Way speakers urged the board to use the plan to expand housing across the affordability spectrum, including homeownership, townhouses and ADUs. United Way's testimony highlighted local ALICE (asset limited, income constrained, employed) data and the county's projected need for housing units, arguing that limiting options in rural or other zones could create bottlenecks in supply and harm economic mobility.

Process and next steps: Commenters also urged the board to preserve or restore specific planning language (including staff-recommended text that would retain some flexibility on UGA boundary adjustments) and to defer any late additions that did not receive full Planning Commission analysis. Director Arai told the board the final decision is scheduled for Dec. 16 and that staff would bring any needed follow-up work sessions in the interim.

Why it matters: The Thurston 2045 update sets policy direction for housing, natural resources, climate adaptation and growth across the county for the next two decades. The choices the board makes on ADUs, cluster development, rural resource industrial uses, and energy facility siting will affect water use, habitat, development patterns and the county's ability to meet state housing and climate obligations.

What comes next: The board closed the hearing Nov. 4 and will hold follow-up work sessions to consider public comments and finalize policy language before a final vote on Dec. 16.