October is National Community Planning Month, recognizing the importance of planning and the impact that the built environment can have on both our community and public health. The Tumwater Planning Commission is an advisory body to the City Council on land use, comprehensive planning issues, and other items which the Council feels may need their review. The Commission is an integral part of the implementation of the Growth Management Act. Members volunteer countless hours of service to improve the City. These citizens are committed to community planning.
The Tumwater Planning Commission consists of nine citizen members serving four-year terms: Sally Nash (Chair), Terry Kirkpatrick (UGA Rep & Vice Chair), Nancy Stevenson, Dennis Morr Jr., Ellen Matheny, Deborah Reynolds, Leatta Dahlhoff, Eric Tompkins, and Jessica Hausman. The Tumwater Planning Commission has been instrumental in creating a vision for the Brewery District, the Capitol Boulevard Plan, and is currently helping to identify design standards to guide the future look of the City.
Citizens play and important role in community planning, not just those that serve on the Planning Commission. There are many ways that citizens can be involved in the community planning process. One simple way is to provide public comments. Most policy changes provide opportunity for public review and formal comment. These comments are considered carefully by policy makers. Make sure to sign up for General City Hall Alerts and you'll get an email with the City Coundil agenda every week. Be sure to contribute your experience of the present and your vision for the future of our Tumwater community as the City updates the Comprehensive Plan in 2016 too.
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 On October 6, 2015, the Tumwater City Council adopted Ordinance 2015-008 to finalize annexation of the Eastside Urban Growth Area, adding approximately 2.5 square miles and more than 3,000 residents to the City. The effective date of the annexation is January 1, 2016.
The City will work closely with Thurston County to provide for a smooth transition of services. One change will be billing for stormwater services. The County includes this amount on property tax bills, and the City bills monthly through their utility billing system. Residents and businesses will receive additional information about any service transitions in their mailbox.
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The City of Tumwater received a grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology to prepare a Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Old Brewhouse area. This environmental review is intended to provide the greatest amount of information about potential environmental impacts and mitigation measures to avoid, minimize, or compensate for these impacts. Formal Comment Period for the Draft EIS ends October 30, 2015.
The review and comment period for the Draft EIS is open for a 30-day period, ending at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2015, which is the deadline for submitting written comments.
A public meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 14, 2015, at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Tumwater City Hall, during which written or oral public comments will be accepted on the Draft EIS.
The focus of this EIS is on property bounded by Custer Way to the south, Deschutes River to the west, Capitol Lake to the north and the railroad to the east. The site is depicted on the Proposed Planned Action Map, above. The City hired SCJ Alliance Consulting Services to prepare the EIS.
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Planning Commission
City staff honored the fallen heroes from 9/11/2001 at a flag raising ceremony on 9/11/2015.