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Thurston County, Washington

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Community Planning and Economic Development

Smokehouse Code Amendment

Notice of Adoption

March 16, 2021 -  The Board of County Commissioners adopted the Commercial Smokehouse ordinance at their regularly scheduled meeting on March 16, 2021 at 3pm. Select the Commercial Smokehouse Ordinance to view the signed and adopted ordinance. If you have questions, please contact planning@co.thurston.wa.us

 

Project Description

Thurston County is considering an amendment to the Title 20.54 Special use chapter of the zoning code. Development Code Docket # CR-4 - Johnson Smokehouse Special Use (Chapter 20.54) is a citizen request by Gary Cooper of Local Planning Solutions to add commercial smokehouses as a special use in rural zoning districts. The applicants are requesting this change because the late Johnson Smokehouse facility, established in 1983, was destroyed by a fire in 2019 (it is currently being rebuilt under existing home-based industry regulations, which limit size). Title 20 does not currently define or permit this use as a special use. The amendment would allow commercial smokehouses as a Special Use. While a smokehouse could still also be permitted as a Home-based Industry in this zoning district, the Home-based Industry regulations only allow for up to 4,000 square feet structure and no more than 2 employees who do not reside on site. At the time of the fire, the Johnson Smokehouse operation was 12,000 square feet, with nearly 20 employees between the smokehouse and the supporting retail outlet. 

 

​Document Center

Adopted Ordinance:

CR-4 - Adopted Ordinance No. 16000 - Commercial Smokehouses