Thurston County schedules public meeting on proposed RV site near Lacey
Thurston County officials have scheduled a public meeting for Thursday, Nov. 4, on a temporary RV safe parking site on Carpenter Road.
The project would allow some recreational vehicles now parked along Ensign Road to temporarily move to county-owned property at 720 Carpenter Road, according to a county news release
“This temporary use would offer a safe place for people living aboard RVs and other vehicles to park while other, more permanent solutions, including designated longer-term safe parking, shelter, or permanent housing is developed,” the release says.
Neighboring residents and businesses can submit comments and questions ahead of the meeting but not during the meeting. Panelists will review and answer the pre-submitted questions, according to the news release.
The county previously scheduled the meeting for Oct. 14 but canceled it on Oct. 8. In an Oct. 11 letter to affected parties, the county indicated the meeting was postposed to align with all timelines associated with the permitting process for the site.
Thurston County, the city of Olympia and the Regional Housing Council collaborated on plans for the project to meet what they describe as an urgent need to remove vehicles parked along Ensign Road, according to the release.
The project aims to remove 15-20 of the over 50 RVs parked along Ensign Road to allow ambulances to more easily access Providence St. Peter Hospital’s emergency entrance, according to an Oct. 20 letter signed by Keylee Marineau, the county’s Homeless and Affordable Housing Coordinator.
“The presence of the vehicles is having a negative impact on the operations of our largest, regional hospital and on the quick and safe access to these facilities by ambulances, other emergency personnel, and the public,” Marineau wrote.
Once the RVs are relocated, the city of Olympia plans to enforce its parking ordinance to keep the road clear for those seeking medical care, per the county release.
The county says the non-profit Olympia Mutual Aid Partners will manage the Carpenter Road site 24 hours a day for about six months, providing access to service to the people living there.
For a longer-term but still temporary solution, the county says the Regional Housing Council is working toward purchasing property at Franz-Anderson Road where RVs can park.
The services offered at the Carpenter Road site would move to the Franz-Anderson Road site once its ready, according to the release, and a permanent housing solution may be built at the Franz-Anderson Road site in the future.
To submit questions and comments ahead of Thursday’s meeting, residents can email Meghan Porter at Meghan.Porter@co.thurston.wa.us.
Panelists at the meeting will include Marineau, Director of Public Health and Social Services Schelli Slaughter, Olympia City Manager Jay Burney, a representative from Olympia Mutual Aid Partners, and a representative from Providence St. Peter Hospital.
The meeting will be hosted virtually and streamed on the county’s YouTube channel from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4.
