By Craig Murphy, The Montesano Vidette , Vidette Reporter, 6/8/2000
For the second time, Satsop homeowners are taking the county to court over a gravel pit decision.
County Commissioners were informed of the lawsuit during correspondence at their Monday, June 5 meeting. The Satsop Valley Homeowners Association filed a land use petition against the County, Northwest Rock and property owner Richard Studer on May 26. Monday was the first meeting for the Commissioners since that time.
The suit, filed in the Thurston County Superior Court, alleges 19 reasons why the Grays Harbor County Board of Adjustment's decision was wrong. Among other things, the board is accused of having an inadequate public notice, improper compliance with regulations and violating the appearance of fairness doctrine.
The suit asks for the decision to be reversed, an order requiring the county to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, and court costs.
On May 8, the Grays Harbor County Board of Adjustment approved Northwest Rock's plan to operate a 29-acre surface excavation and processing facility on the Middle Satsop Road, about five miles north of Brady. Studer is the owner of the property, referred to as the Studer pit.
One of the concerns expressed by surrounding homeowners at the May 8 meeting was that the Studer pit is located about a mile down the road from the Mouncer pit, another gravel pit. The board approved that pit in December 1999, and was also appealed to the Thurston County Superior Court.
The fear expressed in May was that with two pits located so closely together, there would be nothing to prevent Northwest Rock from operating both pits at the same time, greatly increasing noise, among other factors.
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