Hearing examiner leaves record open for Ocean Shores wetland-buffer exception for multifamily project

OCEAN SHORES, Wash. — The City of Ocean Shores hearing examiner left the record open Oct. 7 for a reasonable use exception request that would allow a multifamily and recreational-accommodations development to impact wetland buffers on five adjacent parcels, and said he will issue a written decision within 10 business days after the state environmental review is complete.

The hearing examiner, Yoshi Kumar of Laminar Law, opened the hearing at 10 a.m. and said the single agenda item was RUE case number 25000004, a request to authorize impacts to buffers associated with Category 3 wetlands on lots addressed as 756 and 748 Ocean Shores Boulevard, 738 Ocean Shores Boulevard, 749 Ocean Court and 154 Capstan Street NW.

Why it matters: The proposal would change use and development flexibility on a commercially zoned, gateway-corridor block in the northwest part of Ocean Shores and depends on securing full off-site mitigation credits and completing State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review before any RUE-related permits move forward.

At the hearing, Marshall Reed, the city’s lead planner, told the examiner the project will not proceed without full off-site mitigation. "This project will not move forward without full off-site mitigation, whether that be provided by the City of Ocean Shores or another mitigation bank," Reed said, describing the city’s queue for mitigation credits and noting the city is working on other projects…