Why do we need the
Sustainable Thurston project?

 Protect What Matters - Think about what makes the Thurston region such an incredible place to live, work and play. Nestled at the southern end of sparkling Puget Sound.  Mt. Rainier visible on a clear day. A rich cultural heritage. Home to the Washington State Capital. All community treasures that lend valuable qualities to life in our region.

 Shape our Future - More than 252,000 people make their homes in our cities, tribal lands, small towns, suburbs and rural areas. Population forecasts indicate that 170,000 more people will live in the Thurston region by 2040, making it one of the fastest growing counties in the state.  

Identifying Opportunities - Increased activity will make our urban centers more vibrant and bring more variety in housing, job choices, local attractions, and activities. Growth can also help our small towns obtain services and employment opportunities to support their residents. Concentrated growth may increase our transportation choices – transit, walking and bicycling - and may shorten our commutes.

Addressing Challenges - Growth will strain our resources such as water and energy and likely increase traffic congestion. Growth in our sensitive rural watersheds can damage the health of our lakes, streams, rivers, and Puget Sound. Growth will place increased pressure on our farms and forests to convert to housing suburbs.

Why should I get involved?

You are a community expert - It is important that the people who live in our region have a say in how its future will look. You likely live here because you enjoy living in the Thurston region. Look at the list of panel topics above. You know a lot about these topics if you drive or walk in the community, if you own or rent a home, if eat food or drink water. The next few decades will bring both opportunities and challenges, and this Plan is an opportunity to build communities that are resilient, vibrant,and healthy. Providing your opinions will help shape a plan that maintains and improves the quality of life that you value and leaves a legacy for future generations.

Who is already on the team?

Project Partners - TRPC teamed with 29 organizations and local governments to sign on to develop a Regional Plan for Sustainable Development.

Learn more >

Who's Missing? YOU!

Where are we in the process?

We already have plans in place for the future. These local Comprehensive Plans help each community meet local needs and state Growth Management Act requirements. What we’re missing is a broader, more diverse Regional Plan and Vision that spans across all communities in our region. We need local governments, business people and residents to help us consider a variety of topics when thinking about sustainability:

•Economic Development
•Housing
•Health and Human Services
•Energy
•Public Safety
•Land Use, Transportation and Climate Change
•Water Infrastructure
•Solid Waste
•Local Food Systems
•School Siting and Transportation, North and South County Districts

Over the next two years, we'll develop a Regional Plan for Sustainable Development that will connect our local communities – cities, small towns, tribal communities, neighborhoods, and rural areas – to coordinate and work together – across city limits and other boundaries. The plan will involve people that live, work, go to school, and play in our community. We want to make sure that everyone has a place in this project. Whether you’re an old hand at planning or have never before participated, we want you at the table. We need a wide range of voices and opinions to form the plan. We need your voice.

The Sustainable Thurston Task Force will draft a Regional Plan for Sustainable Development – to be reviewed and adopted by the Thurston Regional Planning Council by the end of 2013. The plan will be informed by an extensive public process and will articulate a community-defined sustainable future, and the actions and responsibilities to achieve it.

Sustainable Thurston Panels are working now to compile research and information on the topics listed above to be presented to the Task Force in a series of white papers. Their work will inform the community-wide public conversation set to begin in 2012.

How can I get involved?

We'd love to hear from you - your comments are welcome at any point during this process - come to a meeting, send your thoughts via email to SustainableThurston@trpc.org or give us a call at
(360) 956-7575.

Public meetings - We’ll kick off a series of Public Meetings in 2012 and we hope you'll come to share your ideas. Task Force and panel meetings are also open to the public, and time to hear public comment is included on every agenda.

Email list - To receive updates and meeting announcements, please click the green button (upper right on this page) to join our email list.

Draft panel white papers - Click the links provided above to read one or all of the Draft Panel White Papers, share your comments or suggestions by email, telephone or in person during a meeting.

More ways to participate - Throughout the project, we’ll also include ways for you to speak your mind online or by sending in a survey.