Thurston County, Washington

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Thurston County Washington

Community Planning and Economic Development

Hearing Examiner

Upcoming Hearing Projects

NEXT HEARING DATE: July 15, 2025, | AGENDA

PROJECT NAMES:

 

2023105871 Appeal of Paul Wendler to the Board of County Commissioners -RESCHEDULED TO April 16, 2025 beginning at 1:00 pm

Hearing Examiner Response to Remand

Board of County Commissioners Decision 

Motion for Continuance of Hearing Date

RESCHEDULED HEARING NOTICE 

A.  Appeal

B. Hearing Examiner Decision - Hearing Examiner Decision on Reconsideration

C.  Comment Letters

     Kristie Danzer, received March 11, 2025

     Jennifer Bourke, received March 13, 2025

      Sherry Hill, received March 13, 2025

      Joni Blake, received March 13, 2025

      Tracie Lamie, received March 13, 2025

      Robert Lamie, received March 13, 2025

      Meryl Bernstein, received March 13, 2025

      Nicholas Damian, received March 13, 2025

D.  Appellant Response to Comment Letters 

      Applicant Responsive Memorandum

      Declaration of Joseph A. Rehberger in Support of Applicant Responsive Memorandum

      Certificate of Service- Responsive Memorandum

E. Directions to Site 

F. Parties of Record 

G. Exhibits Before the Hearing Examiner

1.    Staff Report including attachments

Attachment a             Legal Notice and Adjacent Property Owners List

Attachment b             2024.02.07 - Notice of Application

Attachment c             2023.12.29 - Master and Special Use Permit Applications

Attachment d             2023.12.23 - Site Plan

Attachment e             2024.07.10 - Applicant Response to 04.29.2024 Communication Matrix

Attachment f             2024.07.10 - Drainage plan and traffic generation report

Attachment g             2024.07.10 - HCP application for Hillside Farms

Attachment h             2024.07.10 - Revised Site Plan

Attachment i              2024.07.10 - Revised SUP application

Attachment j             2024.07.10 - Trip Generation Memorandum

Attachment k             2024.07.10 - Abbreviated Drainage Plan

Attachment l              2020.01.10 - OSF assessment

Attachment m           2020.01.29 - wetland mitigation site plan

Attachment n             2020.01.30 - CARP - Decision letter

Attachment o             2020.02.25 - HEX Approved R.U.E. Decision

Attachment p             2023.08.24 - Land Use Intake Checklist & Planning Presub Notes

Attachment q             2024.07.09 - Approved Site Plan for Retaining Wall

Attachment r             2019.12.12 - Wetland Buffer Mitigation Plan for Hillside Farms

Attachment s             Agency Comments

  1. 02.23.2024 - Agency Comment – Squaxin Island Tribe
  2. 2024.02.16 - Agency Comment - Nisqually Tribe
  3. 2024.08.29 - Agency Comment - Thurston County Public Health
  4. 2024.08.12 - Agency Comment - Thurston County Public Works

Attachment t             Public Comments

  1. 2024.02.09 - Public Comment - Bob Partlow
  2. 2024.02.09 - Public Comment - Kristie Danzer
  3. 2024.02.09 - Public Comment – Will
  4. 2024.02.13 - Public Comment - Nick Damian
  5. 2024.02.13 - Public Comment - Sherry Hill(2)
  6. 2024.02.13 - Public Comment - Sherry Hill
  7. 2024.02.15 - Public Comment - Jennifer Bourke
  8. 2024.02.26 - Public Comment - Justin Bourke
  9. 2024.02.27 - Public Comment - Joni Blake
  10. 2024.02.27 - Public Comment - Rob Lamie
  11. 2024.02.27 - Public Comment - Tracy Lamie
  12. 2024.03.25 - Public Comment - Sherry Hill
  13. 2024.04.06 - Public Comment - Sherry Hill
  14. 2024.05.21 - Public Comment - Sherry Hill
  15. 2024.06.03 - Public Comment - Joni Blake
  16. 2024.06.03 - Public Comment - Sherry Hill
  17. 2024.06.10 - Public Comment - Sherry Hill
  18. 2024.06.25 - Public Comment - Sherry Hill
  19. 2024.07.08 - Public Comment - Sherry Hill
  20. 2024.07.22 - Public Comment - Justin Bourke
  21. 2024.07.22 - Public Comment - Sherry Hill
  22. 2024.07.23 - Public Comment - Sherry Hill
  23. 2024.08.05 - Public Comment - Sherry Hill
  24. 2024.11.22 - Public Comment - Nicholas Damian

Attachment u              2024.11.28 - Public Notice Board (Email)

Attachment v              2024.12.03 - Public Notice Board (Email)

Attachment w             2024.12.04-Applicant Response to Public Comments

Attachment x             Applicant worksheet used by Environmental Health

Exhibit 2a                   Public Comment from Sherry Hill and Ryan Smith, December 6, 2024

Exhibit 2b                   Public Comment from Jennifer Bourke, December 8, 2024

Exhibit 2c                   Public Comment from Joni Blake, December 9, 2024

Exhibit 2d                   Public Comment from Tracy Lamie, December 9, 2024

Exhibit 2e                   Public Comment from Robert Lamie, December 9, 2024

Exhibit 3                      Applicant Impervious Surface Calculations and Applicant records of events held in 2024     

Exhibit 4a                   Post-hearing comment, Jennifer and Justin Bourke, December 11, 2024          

Exhibit 4b                   Post-hearing comment, M.B., December 12, 2024      

Exhibit 4c                   Post-hearing comment, Joni Blake, December 12, 2024      

Exhibit 5                     Applicant response to post hearing comments, December 16, 2024

Exhibit 6                    Staff response to post hearing comments, December 17, 2024

Exhibit 7                     Request for Reconsideration, January 21, 2025

Exhibit 8                     Staff Response to Request for Reconsideration, January 28, 2025

Exhibit 9                     Applicant Response to Staff and Parking Agreement, January 30, 2025

2021102274 Gustafson and Miller Appeal to the Board of County Commissioners- March 19, 2025 beginning at 9:00 am

Hearing Examiner Order Reopening the Record and Reconvening the Hearing

BoCC Decision

Notice of Appeal

A.  Appeal

B. Hearing Examiner Decision

C.  Comment Letters

D.  Appellant Response to Comment Letters 

E. Directions to Site 

F. Parties of Record 

G. Exhibits Before the Hearing Examiner

1.    Staff Report including attachments

Attachment a             1966.12.29 - Johnson Point Plat (April 17, 1944) - AF#752928

Attachment b             1991.05.29 - BLA - AF#9105290016

Attachment c            1992.03.19 - BLA - AF#9203190240

Attachment d             1992.04.06 - 3 lots accepted as 1 separate parcel (see p. 11)

Attachment e             2020.07.30 - Residence Master Application

Attachment f             2021.02.22 - TM Subdivision Guarantee Policy

Attachment g             2021.05.04 - Critical Areas Report

Attachment h             2021.05.05 - SEPA-Cover Sheet

Attachment i              2021.05.05 - SEPA-Environmental Checklist

Attachment j             2021.05.27 - Certificate of Water Availability

Attachment k             2024.10.09 - Abbrev. Drainage Report

Attachment l              2024.04.17 - Building Footprint Analysis

Attachment m           2024.01.30 - Communication Matrix-Applicant Response

Attachment n             2024.01.30 - Joint Aquatic Resources Permit

Attachment o             2024.01.30 - Shoreline Administrative Variance

Attachment p             2024.01.30 - Residential Development Reasonable Use Exception Plan Set

Attachment q             2024.02.22 - Habitat Assessment & Mitigation Plan

Attachment r             2024.07.29 - Administrative Shoreline Variance Application

Attachment s             2024.07.29 - Analysis for Administrative Shoreline Variance from Setbacks

Attachment t             2024.08.21 - LEGAL-NOTICE-2021102274

Attachment u             2024.10.09 - Residence Development Plans

Attachment v             2024.10.13 - LEGAL-NOTICE-AND-APO-LIST-2021102274

Attachment w            2021.05.25 - Reasonable Use Exception Application

Attachment x             2024.02.21 - Critical Area Review Permit Application

Attachment y             Dry Land v. Submerged Land Arial – K. Chalem

Attachment z             2024.07.31 - Combined Notice of Application, DNS, Public Hearing

Attachment aa           Agency Comments

  1. 2021.05.28 - Agency Comment - Squaxin Island Tribe
  2. 2021.06.02 - Agency Comment - Nisqually Indian Tribe
  3. 2021.06.02 - Agency Comment - TC Floodplain Manager
  4. 2021.06.08 - Agency Comment - DAHP
  5. 2021.06.09 - Agency Comment - DOE
  6. 2021.06.22 - Agency Comment - E.H.
  7. 2024.01.29 - Agency Comment - DAHP
  8. 2024.08.12 - Agency Comment - Nisqually Indian Tribe
  9. 2024.08.13 - Agency Comment - DOE (SEPA)
  10. 2024.11.15 - Agency Comment - E.H. Recommendation
  11. 2024.11.18 – Agency Comment - TC Biologist

  12. 2024.11.14 - Agency Comment - TC Public Works

Attachment bb          Public Comments

  1. 2024.08.19 - public comment with photos - Burt and Cheryl Miller
  2. 2024.08.13 -public comment with photos, Berchauer1
  3. 2024.08.13 -public comment with photos, Berchauer2
  4. 2024.08.13 -public comment, Berchauer3

Attachment cc             2024.12.05 - Proof of Publication to Nisqually News

Attachment dd            2024.12.06 - Applicant Signed Affidavit of Posting             

Attachment ee             2024.12.04 - Shoreline Variance Analysis / Narrative

Attachment ff              2024.11.21 - MSA Consultant Clarification of Habitat Assessment

Attachment gg            2024.11.20 - Signed Affidavit of Site Posting for Hearing Nov. 26

Attachment hh           Communication Matrix Environmental Health 

Attachment ii              Combined Notice of Application, MDNS, and Hearing with APO list, July 31, 2024

Attachment jj            Notice of December 19, 2024 Public Hearing and APO List, December 2, 2024

Exhibit 2a                   Johnson Point Water System Home Owner's Association Comment, December 11, 2024

Exhibit 2b                   Burt Miller Comment, December 17, 2024

Exhibit 2c                   Burt Miller Comment, December 18, 2024

Exhibit 2d                   Scott Gustafson Comment, December 18, 2024

Exhibit 3                     Amended Environmental Health Comment, December 17, 2024

Exhibit 4                     Applicant's Response to Staff Report and Additional Exhibits, December 19, 2024

Exhibit 5a                   Post hearing comment, Barbara Chambers, December 23, 2024

Exhibit 6                     Applicant Response to post hearing comment, December 23, 2024

About the Hearing Examiner Process & How to Participate 

County codes require some building and development projects to go through a public hearing process so that community members and the public can have a say in proposed development.  Codes also provide a way for permit applicants to request exceptions to some land use rules. Find more about the hearing examiner below.
 

  • Join Online Public Hearings on the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays each month. How to join a Zoom Meeting
  • Submit a Comment to the Land Use Clerk (see contact info below) on a Hearing Examiner Project during the project's public comment period.
  • See Past Hearing Examiner Decisions linked in the drop down below.

More About the Hearing Examiner

Hearing Examiner requests are related to plat subdivisions, special uses, shoreline permits, variances, and administrative land-use. The requests and hearings are managed by the Hearing Examiner, an attorney appointed by the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) to provide a public, quasi-judicial hearing, and issue formal decisions or make recommendations to the BoCC.  Hearing Examiner decisions can be appealed to the Board of County Commissioners or the appropriate appellate body with jurisdiction, based on the record established before the Hearing Examiner. See Thurston County Code Title 2: Administration (Chapter 2.06).

Contact us

  • Email Sonja Cady, Land Use Clerk
  • Call 360-867-2117  |  Fax 360-754-2939  |  TTY/TDD call 711 or 1-800-833-6388 
  • Mail Thurston County Office of the Hearing Examiner

    3000 Pacific Ave SE, Suite 100

    Olympia, WA 98501