PORT ANGELES — A spike in building permits has put Clallam County on track to smash a one-year record for hearing examiner cases, commissioners learned Tuesday.
Hearing Examiner Andrew Reeves adjudicated 14 land-use matters from Jan. 1 through May 31, a five-month record, with seven more hearings scheduled through the end of August, County Administrator Jim Jones said Tuesday.
A record 22 hearings were conducted by county hearing examiners in 2014.
Clallam County has already spent the $30,000 that was originally budgeted for the hearing examiner’s position in 2017, county Budget Director Debi Cook said in a public hearing Tuesday.
“It’s been a real busy and much-unanticipated workload for that office,” Jones said.
To meet the unexpected demand, commissioners approved a $30,000 debatable budget emergency to cover the cost of three hearings that have already taken place and other hearings for the rest of the year.
The budget emergency provides the spending authority needed for payments. No speakers testified at the hearing on five debatable budget emergencies.
Hearing examiners conduct land-use hearings and issue written decisions — often ruling on conditional use permits for proposed developments — in accordance with local, state and federal regulations.
Most land-use hearings occur in the spring ahead of the building season.
“Springtime is the busiest time,” Jones told commissioners.
Officials attributed the increase in hearings to building permits.
“I’m glad to see that we’re seeing more economic activity in the county,” Commissioner Bill Peach said.
“As I take a look at one of the reasons for the additional use of the hearing examiner, it goes to the issue of writing codes that have conditional use provisions.
“It’s a great approach,” Peach added.
“It does have the ability to process requests, but where possible, I just think there’s quite a savings we can have at the county where we specify: here are the conditions for your permitted activity.”
Commissioners approved a three-year contract with Seattle-based Sound Law Center for Reeves’ services last July.
Reeves, who travels to Clallam County for hearings, receives a flat fee of $2,250 per hearing.
The county pays an additional $1,050 for printing, staff and administrative support.
The county charges applicants $1,000 per hearing.
Reeves is scheduled to brief commissioners on his workload at a work session in mid-July.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsula dailynews.com.
