Free Workshop “Managing Horse Properties, Naturally” on Jan 9

The Thurston and Mason Conservation Districts are sponsoring a free workshop, “Natural Ways for Managing Horse Properties” on Wednesday, January 9. Learn how to control dust, mud, bugs and weeds naturally, while reducing dependency on fertilizers, herbicides and other chemicals.

This workshop will be useful for owners of any livestock, including cattle, goats, llamas, alpacas and others. Alayne Blickle will showcase and explain different designs for low-cost ways to put native trees, shrubs and animals to work for you on your property. Alayne is the creator and Program Director of Horses for Clean Water, she writes and travels throughout the world educating about efficient and ecological horsekeeping practices.

Free bird & bat box designs will be available, as well as resource information and details about purchasing native plants at upcoming Conservation District Native Plant Sales.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008
6 PM to 9 PM
The Thurston Conservation District Office
2918 Ferguson St SW, Building 1 Tumwater, WA 98512
click here for a map

In Thurston County, please contact Sara at (360)754-3588, ext 136 or scarter@thurstoncd.com. In Mason County, please contact Karin at 360-427-9436, ext 22 or karinls@masoncd.org to register or to obtain more information.

Sponsored by the Thurston and Mason Conservation Districts with funding from the Washington State Department of Ecology.

Public Hearing on Residential Development Moratorium – Jan 14

The Thurston County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on January 14, 2008 at 6:00 p.m., in Room 280, Building 1, of the Thurston County Courthouse Complex, 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Olympia, Washington, 98502.

The purpose of the public hearing is to accept public comment on the amendment of Ordinance No. 13405 which established a moratorium prohibiting residential plats and subdivisions under Title 18 of the Thurston County Code as amended by Ordinances No. 13450, 13518, 13565, 13673, 13766, 13822, 13886 and 13864. On December 3, 2007 the Board of County Commissioners took emergency action and adopted Ordinance No. 13961 amending the residential subdivision moratorium.

Click here to access any portion of the Thurston County Code.

To view the amended subdivision moratorium map or a close up view of the area added to the moratorium click on the following links:

Map: Residential Subdivision Moratorium Areas – amended 12/3/2007

Map: Close-up of the area added to the Residential Subdivision Moratorium
(parcels in orange were added to the moratorium on 12/3/2007)

Those wishing to testify at the January 14, 2007 public hearing should appear and be heard. To ensure that written comments are considered by the Board of County Commissioners, they should be received by January 14, 2008. Send letters to the Board of County Commissioners Attn: Celinda Adair, Associate Planner, Thurston County Courthouse, 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Olympia, Washington, 98502. Emails may be sent to adairc@co.thurston.wa.us.

If you need special accommodation to participate in the public hearing, please call (360) 754-4001 by 10:00 a.m. at least three days prior to the meeting. Ask for the ADA Coordinator. Citizens with hearing impairment may call the TDD line at (360) 754-2933.

PROJECT STATUS UPDATE: RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION MORATORIUM AREAS

The remaining moratorium areas will be analyzed and evaluated for removal or rezoning as a separate work program beginning in January 2008. In January a project schedule/timeline will be posted.

For more information, see the Thurston County web page at http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/permitting/GMA/subdiv-moratorium.htm