Tumwater council backs study of Salish Landing UGA swap after hours of public comment

Tumwater — The City Council voted 4–1 on Feb. 3 to authorize Mayor Lietta Dalhoff to send an amended letter to the Thurston County Board of Commissioners requesting that the Bar Holdings LLC (Salish Landing) comprehensive-plan amendment remain on the county’s 2026–27 docket for full environmental and public review. Council members said the vote authorizes further study and is not an approval of development.

The decision followed more than two hours of public comment in chambers and online. Supporters, including applicant partners Rob Rice and Mike Brewer, business groups and local chambers, urged the council to let the county process proceed; Rice said, “We plan to be around a long time and continue to support those activities,” and emphasized the applicants’ local ties. Proponents highlighted an anticipated YMCA site and projected jobs, with an economic-development representative describing an estimated $50 million in labor income and ongoing tax revenue benefits.

Opponents raised environmental and equity concerns. Tammy Tonder, a retired storm-sewer engineer, warned the swap “creates development pressure on surrounding rural and natural resource lands” and cited county hydrology findings that, she said, show risk to the Deschutes River and local wells. Anna Ramsey and others said the proposal could raise land values and displace residents in roughly 90 manufactured-home households near the site.

City staff and outside consultants described the swap mechanics. David Toyer, the applicant’s land-use consultant, noted that the swap also removes about 65 acres from the UGA in a different location and said the change could concentrate growth nearer existing services. Heather Burgess, land-use counsel for Salish Landing, told the council the swap would trigger extensive SEPA environmental review and multi-jurisdictional review paid for by the applicant.

Council members framed the vote as a choice to seek more information, not to permit development. Council member Angela Jefferson said Tumwater must plan for growth and housing and supported the amended letter. Council member Joan Kathy said she opposed the motion, citing concerns about trees, transit access and long-term consequences; she cast the single no vote.

The amended letter — described by staff as clarifying the city’s position and stressing comprehensive public analysis under SEPA and Thurston County code 20.60 — asks the county to retain the amendment on its docket so impacts can be studied and the public can comment through formal SEPA processes. Staff outlined a timeline that could include an interlocal agreement with the county, an EIS prepared for the application, planning-commission review and later county-commission decision.

What happens next: If the county keeps the amendment on the docket and the applicant funds a SEPA environmental-impact statement, public comment periods and technical studies on water, sewer, transportation and critical areas would follow. The council’s letter does not authorize development or a swap — it asks only that the county keep the application under formal review.

Council vote: motion to authorize the mayor to sign the amended letter passed 4–1. The council recorded no further binding land-use decisions at the Feb. 3 meeting.