By Jerome Tuaño
The Great Agricultural Face-Lift: Amending the Ordinance One Crop at a Time
On a sunny Tuesday, February 20, the Board of County Commissioners decided it was time to dust off the agriculture code, giving it a much-needed makeover. Because, you know, who doesn’t love a good agricultural revamp in the middle of a bustling county?
The changes made are as expansive as a well-watered cornfield. The county is now rolling out the welcome mat to a plethora of agricultural activities in the long-term agriculture district. And for the uninitiated, that’s where things get really “agri-culturally” exciting.
They’ve amended four chapters of the Thurston County Code Title 20, which, let’s face it, had probably been gathering dust like an old Thanksgiving turkey. These updates aim to conserve lands of long-term commercial significance—because preserving agriculture is a lot like keeping your grandma’s secret pie recipe safe from scavengers.
So what’s forbidden on these precious lands? Well, nothing! As long as you’re not using prime farmland soils, you can now add these delightful activities to your agricultural toolkit:
- Producing agricultural crops (to, you know, feed the masses)
- Selling agricultural supplies (because every farm needs a good shovel)
- Setting up a commercial biochar production facility (the go-to choice for eco-friendly hipsters)
- Starting a home-based industry (because who doesn’t love working from home in their pajamas?)
- Running nurseries or retail greenhouses (for all your plant-parent needs)
- Establishing renewable energy facilities (go green or go home!)
- Building a stockyard (because every county needs some livestock drama)
If you happen to own land with prime farmland soils—lucky you!—you can now use up to one acre for these fabulous activities, but only if you lack access to non-prime farmland. It’s like getting a participation trophy but only if you finish your homework!
Meanwhile, in the agritourism overlay district—where tourists somehow end up thinking they’re in a pastoral paradise—regulations have been streamlined. Yes, things like farmers markets and cozy bed-and-breakfasts are now easier to set up. It’s as if someone finally realized that red tape and ropes don’t make for good guest experiences.
Before green lighting these amendments, the board conducted a public hearing on January 16, followed by two riveting work sessions that had everyone on the edge of their seats. The planning commission, in a not-so-unanimous decision that resembled a family feud, approved the ordinance with a nail-biting 5-2 vote last August. Apparently, they were fighting over more than just the bouquet toss!
Senior Planner Andrew Deffobis even informed the board that there will be more public hearings about the updated map later this year—because what’s better than a good agricultural ordinance to spark further spirited debate?
