Hearing Examiner
Upcoming Hearing Projects
NEXT HEARING DATE: January 27, 2026| AGENDA
PROJECT NAMES:
- 2024103064 Moore Retaining Wall SSDP - Beginning at 10:00 am
- 2023104846 Yew Trails Preliminary Plat - Beginning at 11:00 am
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Hearing Materials for Projects above
- HOW TO JOIN
- Zoom Link
- Webinar: 819 9476 5346
- Passcode: 557752
- Phone Number: 1 253 205 0468
- Instructions on joining a Zoom meeting
NEXT HEARING DATE: February 3, 2026| AGENDA
PROJECT NAMES:
- 2024104116- Battery Energy Storage Special Use Permit- Reconvened Hearing- Beginning at 10:00 am
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Hearing Materials for Projects above
- HOW TO JOIN
- Zoom Link
- Webinar: 870 2977 5617
- Passcode: 547065
- Phone Number: 1 253 205 0468
- Instructions on joining a Zoom meeting
Appeals to the Board of County Commissioners
Decisions issued by the Hearing Examiner concerning land use projects, building permits, and notices of violation may be appealed to the Board of County Commissioners. The Board conducts a closed record appeal hearing in which no new testimony or additional evidence is accepted. The Board’s review is limited exclusively to the record that was developed during the Hearing Examiner’s hearing, and its decision is based solely on that existing record.
Current Appeals to the Board of County Commissioners
Board of County Commissioners Decision
Rescheduled Hearing Notice to December 3, 2025
Notice of Appeal Hearing October 15, 2025
A. Appeal
B. Hearing Examiner Decision - Hearing Examiner Decision on Request for Reconsideration
E. Exhibits Before the Hearing Examiner
Order Extending Time for Decision on Reconsideration, June 10, 2025
Applicant Notice of Unavailability, June 9, 2025
Applicants' Objection to Re-Opening Record
Hearing Audio (m4a format)
1. Staff Report including attachments
Attachment a Notice of Public Hearing
Attachment b Master and Special Use Applications for Five-Year Review and Mine Expansion, submitted September 30, 2020
Attachment c Applicant Narrative, submitted September 30, 2020
Attachment d Application attachments, submitted September 30, 2020
Attachment e Site Plans, submitted September 30, 2020
Attachment f Presubmission Conference Planning Notes dated May 7, 2020
Attachment g Nisqually Tribe response to application notice, dated October 26, 2020
Attachment h Approved Site Plan from SUP 5-86, dated February 2, 1986
Attachment i Staff Report for SUP 5-86 5 YR Review, dated August 5,1991
Attachment j Notice of Application for 5 YR Review and Expansion, dated January 22, 2021
Attachment k First Hold/More Information Needed Letter, dated February 8, 2021
Attachment l First Extension Request (McLucas), dated July 23, 2021
Attachment m Hydrogeology review comments (K. Hansen), dated December 14, 2021
Attachment n Revised Master Application/New Consultants, dated December 20, 2021
Attachment o Comment Matrix #1 for combined application, dated January 25, 2022
Attachment p Separated Comment Matrix for 5 YR Review only, dated May 5, 2022
Attachment q Cover Letter for 5 YR Review Resubmittals (q1-q17), received July 29, 2022
Attachment q1 Exhibit A: HE Decision SUP 5-86
Attachment q2 Exhibit B: HE Decision SUP 5-86 Five YR Review (1991)
Attachment q3 Exhibit C: HE Decision SUPT 96-1164 Five YR Review (1997)
Attachment q4 Exhibit D: Mike Kain Memo, dated April 10, 2007
Attachment q5 Exhibit E: Environmental Health memo, dated July 18, 2007
Attachment q6 Exhibit F: Solid Waste Handling Permit cover sheets
Attachment q7 Exhibit G: Solid Waste Handling Permit
Attachment q8 Exhibit H: ORCAA Certificates
Attachment q9 Exhibit I: 2021 DOE Sand & Gravel General Permit
Attachment q10 Exhibit J: 2022 DOE Inspection Report and Transmittal Letter
Attachment q11 Exhibit K: DOE App. Template
Attachment q12 Exhibit L: DNR Surface Mining Permit
Attachment q13 Exhibit M: Gravel Production Data 2005-2021
Attachment q14 Exhibit N: Detailed Info re: Materials Recycled
Attachment q15 Exhibit O: Gilliardi Plant 1 Spill Response Plan
Attachment q16 Exhibit P: 2022 SWPPP
Attachment q17 Exhibit Q: Site Plan
Attachment r DOE Comments on revised application, dated August 8, 2022
Attachment s Emails re: Expansion app withdrawal, HCP, etc., dated June-August 2022
Attachment t Additional emails re: Application Revision due date, dated July 2022
Attachment u Hydrogeology review comments (K. Hansen), dated September 6, 2022
Attachment v Comment Matrix #1 on Revised 5 YR Review Application, dated October 24, 2022 and including applicant responses to comments, submitted April 20, 2024
Attachment w Revised Master Application/New Consultant (Lombardini), dated May 2, 2023
Attachment x Hydrogeology review comment email (K. Hansen), dated July 5, 2023
Attachment y Emails surrounding last submittals, dated January 2024
Attachment z Additional emails surrounding last submittals, dated January 2024
Attachment z1 Applicant’s Review Scope Narrative, received February 5, 2024
Attachment z2 Exhibit Q: Site Plan
Attachment z3 Exhibit R: ORCAA permit
Attachment z4 Exhibit S: Squaxin email, dated August 12, 2022
Attachment z5 Exhibit T: Narrative Report of Compliance Review
Attachment z6 Exhibit U: 2023 SWHP Extension
Attachment z7 Memo of Environmental Health approval, dated February 16, 2024
Attachment z8 Aerial photos 2000, 2006, 2022
Attachment z9 Second request for extension (Hempelmann & Burke), dated January 24, 2022
Attachment z10 Email of last submittals, dated February 5, 2024
Attachment z11 Site visit photos from April 28, 2021
Attachment aa Affidavit of Hearing Notice Installation, January 2, 2025
Documents received after publication of the staff report:
Exhibit 2a Solid Waste Permit 2023
Exhibit 2b Solid Waste Permit 2024
Exhibit 2c Solid Waste Permit 2025
Exhibit 2d 2007 Recycling Facility Emails
Exhibit 3 Ordinance 8126
Exhibit 4 Complete Set of Recycling Facility Aerial Site Photographs from 2006-2022
Exhibit 5 Series of Emails from 2012
Exhibit 6 Production Volumes 2022-2024
Applicant Post Hearing Analysis and Information
Exhibit 7 Tech Memo 67, received March 14, 2025
Exhibit 8 Email of App Processing, received March 14, 2025
Exhibit 9 Mine Expansion VS 5-Tear Review SUP 5-86, received March 14, 2025
Exhibit 10 Invitation for Additional Conditions, received March 14, 2025
Exhibit 11 Nisqually Gravel Pit Groundwater Monitoring Report, received March 14, 2025
Exhibit 12 Nisqually Gravel Pit Sampling and Analysis Plan SUP 5-86, received March 14, 2025
Exhibit 13 Notice to City of Olympia Mine & Well, SUP 5-86, received March 14, 2025
Exhibit 14 Staff Belief Recycle No Land Use Approval, received March 14, 2025
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 primarily 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.
Project Records for Recent Projects
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).
Forms and Fee Schedules
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