THURSTON COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING NOW RESCHEDULE TO WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2007

The Yelm Planning Commission met on Monday, September 17, 2007 to review and finalize changes to Yelm's Comprehensive Plan submitted at the August Public Hearing and in written comments due to the Commission by September 4, 2007.

Senior Planner for the Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) & City of Yelm adviser Kathy McCormick told the Yelm Planning Commission at that meeting they must have their Traffic Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan conform or be consistent with with the Thurston County Transportation Plan, as she had been instructed by the State. Therefore, if the Thurston County Plan states that LOS D is the standard as to how regional significance is applied, then Yelm's Plan must follow that standard.

Yelm's plan does not follow that standard, as the Planning Commission left the bottomless, unmeasurable traffic grade of LOS F in their plan.

Bald Hills Fire District's Bill Owen submitted testimony to the Yelm Planning Commission stating "that response times
are growing longer which heavy traffic exacerbates. Response times for mutual aid are also increased by traffic volume." This is declaring that the continued traffic increases approved in Yelm endanger an aspect of public safety - and this is from a fire official.

The Thurston County Planning Commission had a public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan scheduled for Wednesday, September 19th and did not have a quorum of its members, so had to postpone this meeting until Wednesday, October 3. NOW THAT MEETING HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, DUE TO A LACK OF A QUORUM.

[Ed. note: This is an embarrassment; that the county cannot get a quorum from nine members of the Planning Commission for 2 scheduled meetings!]

Won't you consider attending this meeting or sending your comments in writing by Wednesday, October 10th.

Aimee Swenson, Associate Planner for Development Services stated to me that anyone who wishes to have their comments be included as part of the public input, may do so in writing by the October 10th meeting.

You may email them directly to her at:
swensoa@co.thurston.wa.us

or via snail mail to:
2000 Lakeridge Dr. SW
Bldg.1, 2nd Floor
Olympia, WA 98502

or Fax:
360-754-2939

Concurrently, you may send your comments to:
Kathy McCormick, Senior Planner
Attn: Thurston Regional Planning Com. (TRPC)
2424 Heritage Ct SW, Suite A
Olympia, WA 98502

or directly to her email: mccormk@trpc.org

Be sure to mark all comments for the Thurston County Planning Commission Public Hearing Oct. 10.
All comments must be received by the close of the hearing on the 10th.

LET'S TELL THE THURSTON COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION THAT THEIR PARTNER IN THE REGIONAL PLAN, YELM, MUST FOLLOW THAT PLAN AND WE EXPECT THEM TO HOLD YELM ACCOUNTABLE TO DO SO!

THE THURSTON COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION NEEDS TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM YOU!