Hearing Examiner

The Hearing Examiner is an appointed position to conduct informal but organized public hearings. The Hearing Examiner's role is to assure fairness and due process protection for all involved in the hearing process. It is his/her responsibility to render land-use decisions in accordance with local, state and federal regulations. No one may contact the Hearing Examiner for the purposes of influencing a decision. All information must be presented at the hearing. Any material not submitted as an exhibit will not be considered a part of the record.

Hearing Examiner dates and agendas can be found on the calendar below.

Types of applications reviewed by the Hearing Examiner are:

• Conditional Use Permits
• Variances
• Subdivisions
• Binding Site Plans
• Shoreline Substantial Development Permits
• Shoreline Conditional Use and Variances
• Appeal of Administrative Decisions

Code CCC 26.04 - Hearing Examiner

Hearings are usually held twice a month and proceed in the following manner:

• Presentation by country staff to describe the application and summarize issues presented
• Presentation by the applicant or the applicant's authorized representative
• Presentations, questions or statements by members of the public
• Rebuttals by staff and applicants
• Final statement from applicant

No oral decision is rendered at the hearing. The Hearing Examiner takes the case under advisement and prepares a decision in a written report within 10 working days of the close of the hearing. The decision includes findings of fact and conclusions of law. Decisions are mailed to those who request it.

The decision by the Hearing Examiner pursuant to this section shall be final on the date issued unless an appeal shall be made in accordance with State law, including Chapter 36.70C RCW.

See the Open Hearing Examiner Cases

Applications are initially reviewed by the Department of Community Development (DCD). Staff provides notices to the public and will provide a report to the Hearing Examiner with exhibits, making a recommendation on the permit. Any interested person may submit written or oral comments on the proposal prior to the close of the open record hearing.