Growth Management

Thurston Regional Planning Council works on regional interjurisdictional projects and programs that explore and take action on both required and optional elements of the State Growth Management Act. These include:  

  • Countywide Planning Policies — Countywide Planning Policies are the framework for developing and adopting city and county Comprehensive Plans as well as changing urban growth boundaries. Countywide Planning Policies are a Growth Management Act requirement.
  • Buildable Lands Report — A Growth Management Act monitoring requirement to ensure that there is adequate land in urban areas to meet projected growth.
  • Thurston County Boundary Review Board — The Boundary Review Board reviews proposals for boundary changes by cities, towns, and special-purpose districts (such as fire districts) within Thurston County, including city or district annexations.

Key Dates in Recent Growth Management Planning in Thurston County

The Urban Growth Management Subcommittee is responsible for reviewing changes to the County Wide Planning Policies and Urban Growth Areas and making recommendations to the Thurston County Board of Commissioners.


1983

First Urban Growth Area Boundary interjurisdictional agreement adopted


1988

Revised Urban Growth Area Boundary interjurisdictional agreement adopted


1990

State Growth Management Act (GMA) passage

County passes interim downzone of 1 unit per 5 acres in most of rural area


1992

Countywide Planning Policies adopted


1993

First post-GMA Regional Transportation Plan adopted


1994-95

GMA Comprehensive Plan amendments adopted by jurisdictions


1995-96

GMA implementing development regulations adopted by jurisdictions


1997

“Buildable Lands” amendments to GMA passed


1998

Regional Transportation Plan updated


2002

First Buildable Lands Report completed


2004

GMA Comprehensive Plan updates

Regional Transportation Plan (2025) adopted


2007

County passes rural rezone

Second Buildable Lands Report completed


2014

Third Buildable Lands Report completed


2016

Regional Transportation Plan (2040) adopted