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Heated debate in Thurston County over Black Lake Quarry rezone; board closes hearing with follow‑up
Summary
A proposed rezone of a 270‑acre gravel mine southeast of Tumwater drew hours of testimony for and against converting most parcels to Rural Resource Industrial (RRI). Supporters cited jobs and revenue; opponents warned of irreversible harm to groundwater, wetlands and habitat adjacent to the Nisqually Refuge. The board closed the hearing and will re
Thurston County commissioners closed a lengthy public hearing on a proposed land‑use amendment and rezone for the Black Lake Quarry/Little Rock site, a 270‑acre gravel‑mining property southeast of Tumwater.
Staff described the owner’s revised request to rezone most of the parcels to Rural Resource Industrial (RRI), while excluding approximately 24 acres of critical areas near the Black River from the rezone. Supporters—including a district planning commissioner, the Economic Development Council and the applicant’s consultants—argued the rezone would protect existing mineral‑resource operations, allow future resource‑connected uses, create local jobs and generate tax revenue to offset annexation losses.
Opponents, including the South Sound Bird Alliance, local residents, hunters and longtime advocates, told commissioners that the site borders the Black River unit of the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, includes groundwater and cool freshwater seeps that support critical habitat (the transcript identifies federally listed Oregon spotted frog habitat nearby), and that a shift to RRI could dramatically increase impervious surface and run‑off with lasting harm to aquatic systems.
Speakers recounted decades of local proceedings and agreements: opponents referenced past appeals, a settlement that placed restrictive covenants limiting certain industrial uses (as described during testimony), and a prior superior‑court outcome that constrained development. Supporters emphasized reclamation bonds and that the owner had proposed a conservation buffer and would not mine below the natural water table.
Commissioners and staff clarified that the current proposal does not seek to expand the existing mining permit today; an existing mining permit remains in effect and mining activity could continue under that permit. Staff said rezoning to RRI would allow a broader list of resource‑connected uses in the future but would not itself automatically expand the current mining operation.
Asked about reclamation, speakers described DNR reclamation plans and bonding practices; one figure cited during the hearing described an estimated reclamation cost of $461,000 attached as an example for bonding on the site (DNR estimate mentioned in testimony). Several residents and environmental groups said rezoning to RRI would risk ever reclaiming the site to functioning habitat and would foreclose restoration once mining ends.
After extended public testimony on both sides, the board closed the public hearing by voice vote and indicated staff follow‑up will occur; no rezoning decision was made at the hearing.
