Thurston County hears appeal over Hillside Farms event permit; decision due April 23

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners on April 16 heard oral argument in an appeal by Paul Wendler asking the board to reverse a hearing examiner—s January 5, 2025, denial of a special-use permit that would authorize events at Hillside Farms, a lavender farm at 112140 Third Avenue Southeast in Tenino.

Appellant counsel Joe Rayburger, an attorney with Cascadia Law Group, told the commissioners the property owner—s operation meets county code and the county—s comprehensive plan and that staff from multiple departments recommended approval with conditions. "We would ask the board to reverse the hearing examiner's decision and approve the special use permit," Rayburger said, adding the applicant had proposed additional conditions intended to resolve outstanding concerns.

The appeal focuses on four questions the board identified at the start of the hearing: whether the proposed use is consistent with the county comprehensive plan; whether zoning requirements (parking, landscaping and impervious-surface rules) are met for the number of events proposed; whether sanitary-code requirements are satisfied; and whether conditions can be…