Planning commission fails to set public hearing for Black Lake Quarry rezone after abstentions

The Thurston County Planning Commission discussed a proposed land-use amendment and rezone for the Black Lake Quarry during a continued-business work session and considered whether to set a public hearing on July 16.

County planner Claire (staff) told commissioners the site contains mapped wetlands adjacent to the Black River, a former man-made processing pond that is currently dry, and roughly 20 acres of natural buffer vegetation near the river. “This area is dry, and it was never a true wetland because it was man made,” she said, and noted the applicant’s five‑year mine review application has been submitted but not yet approved.

Claire said county maps show the entire property falls within mapped critical aquifer recharge areas; the most intense portions are shaded in the county map and carry restrictions that would limit uses such as…