The Lacey City Council has adopted the hearings examiner’s recommendation to approve two proposed residential projects along Hicks Lake, which are planned to include more than 300 housing units.
Following the quasi-judicial process, the council decided during yesterday’s council meeting in front of residents who brought placards to express their opposition to the Schneider Homes Hicks Lake Apartment and the Hicks Lake Multi-Family project.
Residents walked out upon hearing the council’s decision on the two projects.
Only Mayor Andy Ryder voted against the approval of the Schneider Homes Hicks Lake Apartment, saying that there should be a clear statement that only non-motorized boats shall be allowed in the proposed floating dock of the project. Meanwhile, the whole council approved the recommendations on the Hicks Lake Multi-Family project.
Council member Carolyn Cox recused from the voting, saying she could not make a vote on the two projects fairly and impartially.
Schneider Homes Hicks Lake Apartment project, set to be located at 2712 Hazelwood Lane, includes the construction of 178 residential units, a three-building apartment complex with two recreational structures, and an in-ground pool and spa.
Hicks Lake Multi-Family project proposed constructing a 132-unit apartment complex including an amenity building, a recreation building, a pool, and recreational access to Hicks Lake.
A public hearing on the two projects was held on May 26. The hearings examiner recommended the two projects with over 200 conditions for approval.
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KimDobson
Sound Law Center hearings examiner Andrew Reeves made the approval decision on these 300 Units . On their website Sound Law Center appears to have many glowing testimonials from scores of Washington City Planners and City council officials . And strangely enough no Citizen testimonial s giving Sound Law Center praise ? Sound Law Hearings examiner Andrew Reeves decided the approval of the Meridian Gas station project despite testimony from 10 pages of citizens opposing the Meridian on record opposing this development .Perhaps it's time to question the bias in favor of development and speculators Sound Law Center appears to have in its decisions and (it's probable but I can't prove it yet ) cosy relationship with the Washington Chamber of Commerce affiliates ? Yours , Kim Dobson , PCO 094 Fye Cove Precinct
Saturday, August 20, 2022 Report this
AuntSoozee
The City of Lacey chose to put all of the power and responsibility in the hands of the Hearing Examiner. This gives them the excuse that they only listen to his decision and not to the citizens in the Lacey. Cities and counties in Washington State have statutory authority to establish a hearing examiner system. Under a hearing examiner system, a city or county hires or contracts with a hearing examiner to conduct quasi-judicial hearings, usually in place of local bodies such as the planning commission, the board of adjustment, the board of county commissioners, or the city council.
A board of county commissioners or a city council has considerable discretion in establishing how the hearing examiner system will operate. The position of hearing examiner (appointment, qualifications, termination, etc.), the type of issues the hearing examiner is authorized to consider and decide, and the effect of the hearing examiner's decisions are among the matters addressed by the local legislative body and set out in the enabling ordinance.
THIS NEEDS TO BE CHANGED! We can vote out the current city council but unless the Lacey Municipal Code is changed to limit the power of the Hearings Examiner and put the power back in the hands of the people and the council, this will continue! Read Lacey Municipal Code 2.30 Land Use Hearings Examiner.
And another point. How did the zoning get changed previously for those two particular parcels on Hicks Lake to allow this to happen? I've always been told "to follow the money". Maybe someone should do this. ???
Saturday, August 20, 2022 Report this
FirstOtter
Several years ago, I was in a restaurant in downtown Olympia and the men in the booth behind me were discussing the development of a forested area in Lacey. One said, "don't you worry about the people protesting this development. They're nothing but crackpots. All it takes is money in the right hands, use the magic words "tax revenue" and you do what you want."
Saturday, August 20, 2022 Report this