Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Thurston County commission reviews geologic-hazards code update, debates 400-foot permit trigger
Summary
At a March 4 Planning Commission meeting, staff presented a draft update to the geologically hazardous areas chapter of the Critical Areas Ordinance, citing new DNR landslide mapping and a range of geotechnical report requirements; commissioners debated lowering a 400-foot permit trigger to 200 feet and heard public calls for clearer materials and more review time.
Blair, a county staff member, presented a draft overhaul of Thurston County’s geologically hazardous areas chapter during the Planning Commission’s March 4 meeting, laying out a plan to centralize designations and standards, tie triggers to public mapping and clarify levels of geotechnical investigation.
The presentation emphasized use of new DNR landslide mapping and updated soil data to identify hazardous features and said the draft would create clear review pathways so property owners can determine whether a critical areas review permit (CARP) is required and what level of geotechnical report would be needed. "We're referencing the new DNR landslide mapping," Blair said, noting the mapping and NRCS soil information will help target reviews where risk is highest.
The draft currently triggers a CARP for development proposals within 400 feet of mapped hazard features, a distance staff said is larger than most neighboring jurisdictions.…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
