Tenino planning panel recommends updated comprehensive plan to city council, adds sewer‑connection policy

The Tenino Planning Commission voted to recommend an updated comprehensive plan to the city council after a review of mapping changes, new policies and formatting corrections.

Staff walked commissioners through a comment matrix and a revised document that adds an AG Park overlay and a historic overlay to the land‑use and zoning maps, plus a zoning‑only map for clarity. The presenter also said appendices were updated: the street‑tree plan appears as Appendix D and the downtown plan as Appendix A.

Staff read a new utilities policy, UT 9.5, into the record. Unidentified Speaker 2, the staff presenter, summarized the provision: “All new development within 200 feet of a public sewer line shall connect to the system.” He added that “existing development with a failing or substandard septic system as verified by the county health officer or Department of Ecology shall connect to the city sewer within 18 months of notification provided sewer service is available within 200 feet.”

Commission discussion covered several site‑specific and procedural items. Staff reported they had researched an old structure on Old Highway 99 near the school over Scatter Creek and determined it is classified as a culvert maintained by Thurston County; the commission agreed coordination with the county on the UGA and bridges should proceed in joint planning next year. On transportation, staff added a subsection addressing regional diversion impacts when Interstate 5 is closed, noting that SR 507 and Old Highway 99 often serve as informal detours. The plan recommends monitoring diversion impacts and evaluating intersection upgrades, signal timing and traffic calming, and staff said the city would pursue coordination with WSDOT and Thurston County “to ensure that Tenino’s roadway network is considered during regional emergency traffic planning efforts.”

Staff also noted corrections to agency references and resource lists, including use of the correct name “Thurston Regional Housing Council,” additions to the economic development resources such as Experience Olympia, and updates to grant references on page 62. Several tables in the transportation, TIP and CIP sections were updated for missing details and table formatting was standardized; chart formatting remains to be finalized before the council hearing.

Commissioners praised the document’s readability and the work that went into it. Unidentified Speaker 1, a commission member, said the recommendation represents “the hard work of 2 years” and that the document is “very impressive.” After a motion to recommend the plan to the council, the commission approved the recommendation by voice vote.

Next steps: staff said they will work with the mayor and city staff to place the plan on the council agenda (a target date was discussed in the meeting) and begin the development‑code update next year, with the critical areas ordinance and integrating the new climate element expected to be the largest tasks.

The commission adjourned without further business.