“Greetings from the Thurston County Planning Department. We are writing to advise you of two public hearings on proposed changes to how mineral lands are designated in Thurston County, and the permitting requirements to extract minerals from those areas.

The April 21 public hearing before the Planning Commission will focus on proposed requirements for obtaining a special-use permit for mineral extraction.

The April 22 public hearing before the Board of County Commissioners will focus on proposed changes to how mineral lands are designated in Thurston County’s Comprehensive Plan.

April 21, 2010: The Thurston County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to take public comment on the draft ordinance relating to the Special Use Permit process and requirements involving mineral extraction under Thurston County Code (TCC) 20.54.070. The draft ordinance includes changes to the process and requirements for obtaining a special use permit for mineral extraction. The amendments include, but are not limited to, where mineral extraction activities may be permitted, exclusion of critical areas and new buffers established under TCC 20.54.070(21), restrictions on impacts to critical areas, removing asphalt production and recycling as accessory uses to mineral extraction and other amendments related to permitting mineral extraction as a special use. For details, click here.

April 22, 2010:The Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing to accept public comment on the adoption of updates to the Thurston County Comprehensive Plan Chapter 3, Natural Resources. Specifically, this amendment changes the criteria for how property is designated as mineral lands of long-term commercial significance, and the permitting of gravel mines. It addresses the minimum designation criteria such as set back standards, site size, and various environmental considerations.
For details, click here.

Please note: The permitting of asphalt plants was included in Ordinance No. 13030, but will be addressed by the Board at a later time. The ordinance limits the issuance of special use permits for asphalt plants and gravel mines. To view the ordinance, click here.

Sincerely,
The Planning Department Staff