Thurston County planning commission recommends denial of Black Lake Quarry rezone

The Thurston County Planning Commission voted to recommend the Board of County Commissioners deny a proposed land use and zoning map amendment for the Black Lake Quarry, following public comment and a staff presentation on permitting, environmental protections and reclamation.

The commission’s recommendation was driven by concern about environmental constraints at the site, strong public opposition and the county’s comprehensive-plan direction to focus intensive uses inside urban growth areas. “I would ask you not to allow this zoning,” resident Charlotte Persons told the commission during public comment, urging preservation of the Black River corridor and citing differences in allowed impervious surface between RR 1/20 and RRI zoning.

County planning staff described the review path a future industrial project would face if the property were rezoned, including a mandatory critical areas review permit (CARP) because of wetlands and other critical resources on the site. “CARPs are required regardless of what other permit types a project needs,” a county planner said, explaining that CARP review precedes other approvals and identifies mitigation requirements under Thurston County Code Title 24…