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