November 4, 2026 Planning Commission Meeting

The Thurston County Planning Commission held a work session on November 4, 2026, focused on the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) and joint zoning-code updates. Public commenters urged clearer mitigation-sequencing and reasonable-use-exception provisions, stronger limits on off-site wetland mitigation, and more ecological connection between impacts and mitigation sites. Staff said the CAO draft requires on-site mitigation options to be exhausted before off-site mitigation and discussed clarifying the order for locating off-site mitigation. Commissioners also discussed the frequency of reasonable-use exceptions and heard that annual applications varied from 11 in 2024 to roughly 17 in 2023. Wetland bank credits were described as potentially costing about $1–2 million per acre, depending on wetland class; no spending or procurement decision was made. Staff reported revisions to CAO definitions and administrative procedures, including making pre-application screening optional, and plans to publish a hearing draft for review.

The Commission also reviewed proposed joint-code amendments to align county rules in urban growth areas with state housing laws and neighboring cities’ codes, including provisions for middle housing, accessory dwelling units, co-living, and transitional and permanent supportive housing, as well as updates to residential densities. These were work-session discussions; no vote on the code changes was taken. The Commission approved the meeting agenda and amended October 21 minutes, with no procurement-related action. Staff additionally reported work toward online permit submittals and payments, digital plan review, and improved project mapping, but no vendor, contract, or budget allocation was identified.