Tumwater Planning Commission recommends council adopt 2025 comprehensive plan update with wildlife department edits

The Tumwater Planning Commission voted Nov. 10 to recommend that the City Council adopt Ordinance O2025-010, the city’s 2025 comprehensive plan periodic update, with amendments informed by a Nov. 7 letter from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

Chair Elizabeth Robbins opened a legislative hearing on the update and invited staff to summarize the work. Dana Bowers told commissioners the update began in 2022, used Thurston Regional Planning Council forecasts for population and buildable land, and includes elements addressing infrastructure, parks, housing and diversity, equity and inclusion. Bowers said the adoption schedule would move the commission’s recommendation to the council for review Dec. 9 and possible consideration Dec. 16 to meet the state-required year-end adoption timeline.

Brad Madrig, director of community development, reviewed written agency comments from WDFW and explained staff had reviewed the agency’s suggested changes. Madrig said staff generally supported additions that align with state law and recommended incorporating many of WDFW’s edits into the final recommendation, while omitting or modifying language that would create unclear obligations or costly implementation requirements.

Examples staff supported included clarifying mitigation-sequence language, adding protections for riparian areas and updating policies to protect and restore native vegetation. Staff recommended against automatically adopting language that would commit the city to active habitat ‘connectivity’ projects without a program and funding plan; Madrig said that adding the single word “connect” to Policy C15.1 could imply a commitment to land acquisition and long-term maintenance that the city is not currently resourced to deliver.

Public testimony included Andrew Davidson of Linea Energy, who urged the commission to advance policies that support local renewable-energy generation, storage and updated building-code collaboration—specifically urging the city to move the start date earlier for policy CL13.6.0.1, which currently begins in 2035 in the draft plan.

Vice Chair Staff moved to recommend approval of Ordinance O2025-010 with the staff and WDFW amendments; the motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote. Chair Robbins announced the commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to City Council for review and potential action in December.

What’s next: City Council is scheduled to review the commission’s recommendation on Dec. 9 and may consider adoption on Dec. 16. Staff said remaining interagency review windows (including Department of Commerce) must be completed before final adoption.