Thurston commission to hold public hearing on interim emergency housing ordinance
Thurston County residents may comment by Tuesday on a plan to continue allowing homeless encampments by waiving some code requirements for six more months.
The county adopted an interim emergency housing ordinance in June 2019 and most recently renewed it as amended on May 25. In its current form, the ordinance will expire Dec. 9 unless the Board of County Commissioners renews it.
The ordinance applies to rural areas as well as the urban growth areas of Lacey, Tumwater and Olympia — effectively all areas under county jurisdiction.
The ordinance does not establish homeless encampments, but rather gives the Community Planning and Economic Development director, a position currently held by Joshua Cummings, the ability to waive certain code requirements for encampments as needed.
Minor amendments have been proposed for the ordinance being considered for renewal. The changes clarify which fire regulations cannot be waived, and require the director to consult stakeholders before waiving requirements, according to a county news release.
Most recently, county staff proposed to use the ordinance to establish a short-term safe parking site for 20 RV residents near the intersection of Martin Way and Carpenter Road.
However, the county abandoned that project after Commissioner Carolina Mejia withdrew her support. On Nov. 9, Mejia voted with Commissioner Gary Edwards, a consistent opponent of the plan, to strike the project from their agenda.
The location, just outside of Lacey’s city limits, drew public criticism from dozens of local residents and stakeholders who shared comments on the plan.
Under the current emergency housing ordinance, the director can waive many land use code standards including requirements for size, maximum number of residents, parking standards, distance from a bus stop, right-of-way limitations and visual separation from other uses.
The director also can waive standards for keeping a log of residents, requiring verifiable identification, having a security tent, allowing visitors, maintaining a numbering system and requiring liability insurance.
There are some exceptions to the codes the director may waive. He cannot waive requirements for sanitary portable toilets, standards requiring structures to conform to building codes, fire safety requirements, requirements for a code of conduct and agreement, and requirements for the sponsor to self-police and self-manage.
Lastly, the director cannot waive the prohibition of alcohol, illegal drugs, fighting, abuse, littering or disruption of neighbors.
The public hearing has been scheduled for 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30 at the Thurston County Courthouse Building 1, Room 280. Residents also may virtually attend by registering in advance online.
Comments also may be submitted by email to Associate Planner Leah Davis at Leah.Davis@co.thurston.wa.us no later than noon Tuesday. Comments may also be submitted by mail to Davis.
Residents can review the ordinance on the county’s website.
