County to Hold Open House on Rural Rezoning Project – Tuesday, May 29

An Open House will be held on May 29th at 5:30 p.m. at the Worthington Center, 5300 Pacific Ave SE, Lacey WA, regarding the Rural Rezoning project. Members of the public can submit written comments regarding the Planning Commission’s two rezoning proposals and a new innovative technique proposal.

Click here for a map to the Worthington Center.

Public Hearing July 2

A Public Hearing will be held on July 2nd at 6:00 p.m. at the Worthington Center, for the Rural Rezoning project. Members of the public will have the opportunity to testify and provide written comment at the public hearing.

Written comments can be submitted in advance of the public hearing. Please address them as follows:

The Board of County Commissioners
ATTN: Celinda Adair
2000 Lakeridge Drive SW
Building #1, 2nd Floor
Olympia, WA 98502-6045

What is the Rural Rezoning Project?

The Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board found that Thurston County’s land-use regulations do not provide a variety of rural densities, as required by the Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A.070(5)). In response, Thurston County has begun a project to create a variety of densities by rezoning some of the rural lands in the County. This project is called the “Rural Rezoning” project.

To achieve a variety of densities on rural lands, Thurston County is proposing zoning changes for some areas currently zoned 1 house per 5 acres to lower zoning densities (1 house per 10 acres or 1 house per 20 acres.) Figuring out which lands to rezone is a complex process that involves establishing rezoning criteria based on the goals and needs of the local community. Benefits of rezoning may include avoidance of hazards that could harm public health and safety, protection of family farming and forestry industries, enhancement of wildlife habitat, storm water and flood control, drinking water protection, and shellfish protection.

For more information, visit the County’s web page on the Rural Rezoning Project, at http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/permitting/GMA/rural-rezoning.htm

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