Thurston County planning commissioners recommend approval of Gorgas open-space tax application for 76.96 acres

Thurston County planning commissioners on Aug. 20 voted to recommend that the Board of County Commissioners approve the enrollment of 76.96 acres owned by Roland and Cindy Gorgas in the county—s Open Space Tax Program.

Marissa Wissman, a community planner with Thurston County Community Planning, told the commission the applicants sought to enroll the whole parcel under two priority resource categories. "The proposed 76.96 acre property ... the applicants propose to enroll all of their 76.96 acres in open space under the farm and agricultural conservation land and the significant wildlife habitat area categories," Wissman said, citing the Open Space Taxation Act under RCW 84.34 and the county—s program guidelines.

The county staff recommendation described how the applicants proposed placing 15 acres in the farm and agricultural conservation category while continuing haying and honey production, and 61.96 acres in the significant wildlife habitat category because the property contains wetland and mixed-age forest. Staff said the combined enrollment would qualify for six points and a 50% current-use tax reduction.

Public testimony at the hearing included neighborhood concerns about tax shifts. Daniel Bridal, who identified himself as a Yelm resident, said he received a notice about the nearby open-space application and objected to a perceived tax impact on nearby homeowners: "I don't quite ... I don't have any problem with open land. Problem I have is he applies for this, permit for a tax exempt, and those taxes are distributed amongst me and others in the neighborhood, and I just don't feel it's right," Bridal said.

Commissioners asked staff to explain the tax implications. Wissman summarized prior work with the assessor and Department of Revenue guidance and said the county has previously modeled similar scenarios. She told commissioners the example panel in the discussion "looks like it's just under $4,000 per year that would be shifted to the rest of the district, roughly," and also acknowledged variability based on the taxing district size and total taxable value. Wissman offered to provide more precise figures for the specific taxing district on request.

Commissioners discussed the trade-offs between property tax impacts on neighbors and the conservation benefits. One commissioner identified as a property owner in the taxing district said he supported the open-space program and the application despite the small personal tax effect. The planning commission then voted to send a recommendation of approval to the Board of County Commissioners; the motion passed with the commission reporting an 8-1 tally in favor.

Under county procedure the planning commission issues recommendations; the Board of County Commissioners makes the final decision on enrollment and any tax valuation change. Staff told the commission that notices and application materials had been published and distributed to neighbors within 500 feet and that the county had received three public comments opposed to the proposal, primarily expressing concern about a potential tax burden shift.

The record at the public hearing and staff report, as presented to the commission, lists the property location as immediately south of 17825 130 Eighth Avenue Southeast (west of Bald Hill Road Southeast and east of Vail Road Southeast) in the Nisqually Water Resource Inventory Area. The planning commission's recommendation and supporting materials will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners for final action.