Tumwater planning commission unanimously backs housekeeping amendments to development code

The Tumwater Planning Commission on April 14 held a public hearing and voted unanimously to recommend that the city council consider Ordinance No. 2026‑002, a package of housekeeping amendments to the city’s development code.

Brad Madrid, the city’s community development director, gave the staff presentation explaining that the ordinance groups four primarily corrective updates. "As part of this process for developing this particular ordinance, last year and this year, staff gathered information on some minor development code housekeeping amendments," Madrid said. He outlined changes prompted by a Department of Commerce review, updates to how child care centers are classified under state law, clarifications to the sign code and definitions for essential public facilities.

The proposed housing-related edits respond to comments from the Washington State Department of Commerce and aim to align local definitions and standards with state requirements for accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Madrid told commissioners that the changes clarify…