Arts & Entertainment Business Government
Hearing examiner decision on Olalla Valley Winery events delayed again
The owners of Olalla Valley Vineyard and Winery and the staff of the Kitsap County Department of Community Development (DCD) are waiting in limbo for the Kitsap hearing examiner to issue a decision on whether the winery violated its conditional use permit (CUP) and should have it revoked.
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At stake is the winery’s ability to hold outdoor concerts and other summer events. Two neighbors filed complaints with the county last year, alleging that the winery had held more summer concerts than the CUP allowed, was letting vehicles park in unauthorized areas and that noise levels at events were too high.
Pouring wine at Olalla Valley Vineyard and Winery. Photo courtesy of Olalla Valley Vineyard and Winery
The DCD scheduled an October hearing to determine if the winery’s permit should be revoked, but it was postponed to give the winery time to hire an attorney. The hearing ultimately took place virtually on Dec. 16 and lasted for more than 10 hours, after which the county and the winery agreed to file their closing briefs by Jan. 21.
Generally the hearing examiner (HEX) is required to issue a decision within 10 business days of receiving the closing briefs, and it was anticipated that the decision would be published by Feb. 7. But on Feb. 8, the hearing examiner’s clerk sent an email that the HEX had suddenly taken ill, and that an update would be provided later that week.
On Feb. 10, the HEX announced that he needed more time, due to the complexity of the issues noted in the briefs, plus the “voluminous nature” of more than 1,500 pages of exhibit materials and the 10 hours of recorded testimony. He said that he intended to issue a decision by Feb 22.
Feb. 22 came and went, with still no decision. According the DCD, the HEX has set a new decision date of March 18, more than three months after the hearing. So the winery and Kitsap County continue to wait. And wait — and hope that a decision will be announced by the first day of spring.