Thurston County is moving forward with proposed changes to its agricultural zoning policies in response to public demand for stronger farmland protections and a legal appeal filed by the nonprofit environmental group Futurewise.
The revision, part of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA) 16, came after Futurewise challenged the county's 2019 Comprehensive Plan, arguing it did not comply with the state's Growth Management Act (GMA), as covered in a recent article.
“Designation of lands for agricultural use is a state law requirement,” emphasized Ashley Arai, Director of Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED), during a public hearing on Monday, Nov. 25.
The hearing highlighted the debate over how to preserve agricultural land while addressing development pressures.
The county’s proposed solution center on a voluntary enrollment program that would allow landowners with 40 acres or more — or smaller parcels next to agricultural zones — to opt into long-term agricultural (LTA) zoning.
While the proposal does not introduce new zoning regulations, it aims to update the soil types designated for agricultural use.
Arai acknowledged that LTA zoning may not be the most effective strategy for farmland conservation.
"We’re exploring additional strategies," Arai said, addressing concerns from farmers and environmental advocates alike.
Local farmers, such as Jake Yancey, a cattleman managing over 1,000 acres, have criticized the voluntary program. Yancey argued that the voluntary program would not protect farmland from development and would be inadequate for smaller-scale farmers.
He also pointed out that current grazing restrictions limit his ability to meet the growing demand for beef.
"With cattle, it takes approximately 10 acres of year-round grazing to produce one beef," Yancey explained. "Currently, I cannot produce as much beef as needed, and customers continue to reach out to us wanting to buy."
Environmental groups, including Futurewise, argue that current protections are insufficient and advocate for stricter zoning policies to prevent further loss of farmland.
“Thurston County loses about 2,000 acres of farmland annually,” said Holly Gadbaw, a former Olympia City Council member and environmental advocate. “We need to protect enough farmland to maintain and enhance the economic viability of working farms in the county.”
Gadbaw also pointed to the importance of agriculture in the county’s local economy.
She noted that Thurston County ranks second in poultry and egg sales, third in aquaculture, and seventh in nursery sales among Washington’s 39 counties.
On the other side of the debate, some landowners expressed concern that the proposed zoning changes could devalue their properties without adequate compensation.
“These are my resources, not public ones,” said Stephen Connor, a landowner managing 700 acres on the Dofflemyer Peninsula.
Connor’s family has placed 205 acres of their land in conservation with the Capital Land Trust and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), with DNR currently negotiating to purchase an additional 325 acres for a conservation corridor.
“If the county wants to impose additional zoning restrictions, it should compensate landowners for the value of their land,” Connor said. He emphasized that the proposed changes threaten his ability to make a living, citing challenges like labor shortages and deteriorating infrastructure.
“The county should be like the state and the land trusts. They should come to me and say, ‘Let’s work together,’” Connor added.
Without fair compensation, he said, landowners would be unwilling to participate in voluntary conservation programs.
While some landowners support the program’s flexibility, others argue it does not go far enough to protect farmland.
Arai explained that the county had hosted multiple public forums, including seven stakeholder meetings, four informational sessions, and six planning commission work sessions.
She acknowledged widespread support for the voluntary enrollment idea but also noted concerns about how to expand the program’s reach to more landowners.
Loretta Sepinen, a participant in the county’s Working Lands Conservation Strategy, called for the program to be available to all landowners regardless of parcel size.
“By limiting eligibility to only 40-acre parcels or those adjacent to LTA zones, the county is excluding landowners who want to preserve their land but don’t meet the acreage requirements,” Sepinen said.
Commissioner Wayne Fournier stressed the importance of agricultural infrastructure for the long-term viability of farmland.
“Just designating something as long-term agricultural doesn’t necessarily help the ag economy,” he said, pointing out that without infrastructure like processing facilities, cold storage and transportation networks, farmers may struggle to meet market demands.
The Board of County Commissioners will hold a follow-up work session to address concerns from farmers, landowners, and environmental groups.
The commissioners are expected to make a final decision on the zoning amendments by Dec. 17, 2024.
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Southsoundguy
Abolish zoning. End centralized, democratic control over land. It will always seek to destroy productive land and turn it into a disgusting tax source. We will end looking like the Kent Valley.
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