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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExhibit 59 Motion to Continue Hearing FinalLAW OFFICES GORDON THOMAS HONEYWELL LLP 600 University St., Suite 2430 Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 676-7500 - FACSIMILE (206) 676-7575 MOTION TO CONTINUE HEARING - PAGE 1 OF 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 BEFORE THE JEFFERSON COUNTY HEARING EXAMINER In the matter of Unit Lot Subdivision Application Submitted by HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF EAST JEFFERSON COUNTY Parcel No. 901-023-007 (Port Hadlock) Project File No. SUB2025-00012 MOTION TO CONTINUE HEARING On behalf of the Applicant, Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County (“Applicant”), we hereby request the Hearing Examiner to consider and approve a continuance of the September 26, 2025 hearing on the record at said hearing. I.FACTUAL BACKGROUND Counsel for Applicant appeared in this case on September 17, 2025, and on that date contacted and spoke with representatives from the Jefferson County Prosecutor’s Office. Of principal concern were the items noted in the Hearing Examiner’s September 4, 2025 Status Conference Order. There is already a voluminous record to review and digest before continuing the hearing in this matter, and counsel requires additional time to do so. With regard to fire safety, the Applicant intends to work with the County and Fire Marshal to address the Hearing Examiner’s request for additional information, which may include supplemental materials and/or testimony for the Hearing Examiner’s consideration at a forthcoming hearing. In particular, we hope to provide a level of analysis that is appropriate to this stage of the application process. With regard to off-site state highway impacts, and the intersection of SR 19 and SR 116 in particular, the Applicant requires more time to confer with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to finalize an agreed upon mitigation condition. The RECEIVED 09/19/25 EXHIBIT 59 LAW OFFICES GORDON THOMAS HONEYWELL LLP 600 University St., Suite 2430 Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 676-7500 - FACSIMILE (206) 676-7575 MOTION TO CONTINUE HEARING - PAGE 2 OF 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Applicant and WSDOT are agreed in principal, but in lieu of a generalized condition that leaves specifics for a later date, the Applicant is working with WSDOT to prepare something with an appropriate level of detail to incorporate into the record. WSDOT’s reviews are anticipated to require 3 weeks per submittal. Of course, we hope to get everything right the first time, but in an abundance of caution, the Applicant believes six weeks would be appropriate. The Applicant and counsel would also appreciate time to consider the other comments/requests in the Hearing Examiner’s September 4, 2025 Status Conference Order, including the level of detail needed for approval of this application. Based on the foregoing, the Applicant believes a continuance until the week of November 3, 2025 is appropriate. II. EVIDENCE RELIED UPON Applicant relies upon the facts and arguments stated herein. In so far as necessary to support the requested relief, please consider this Motion to be a declaration of the stated facts by Dean Williams, counsel for Applicant, who attests to these facts below. III. ARGUMENT Good Cause. Pursuant to Hearing Examiner Rule of Procedure 2.2, the Hearing Examiner may grant a continuation or postponement of a hearing based on a showing of good cause. Applicant believes the appearance of counsel, which Applicant has not had the benefit of in this matter previously, together with the detailed September 4, 2025 Order setting forth the Hearing Examiner’s expectations, demonstrates good cause to continue the hearing. Continuances are a rather ordinary course when new counsel appears in a case, particularly when there will not be prejudice to any parties thereto. This project is large in scope for Jefferson County, utilizes a relatively unique application set, and will provide sorely needed affordable housing opportunities to the local community. These factors warrant additional time to ensure that counsel will be prepared to address any questions the Hearing RECEIVED 09/19/25 EXHIBIT 59 LAW OFFICES GORDON THOMAS HONEYWELL LLP 600 University St., Suite 2430 Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 676-7500 - FACSIMILE (206) 676-7575 MOTION TO CONTINUE HEARING - PAGE 3 OF 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Examiner may have at the hearing, in addition to preparing witnesses and written materials for presentation. The Hearing Examiner’s September 4, 2025 Order is also very detailed, which necessitates similarly detailed responses to address each of the Examiner’s concerns. Work has already begun on these materials, but additional time is needed while Applicant works with the relevant parties. Format of Continuance. In consideration of the County’s procedures, the Applicant requests the Hearing Examiner to convene the scheduled hearing on September 26, 2025, and consider and approve the continuance on the record. Pursuant to Jefferson County Code 2.30.090(4), “If the date, time, and place at which the continued hearing will be held is announced publicly at the hearing from which the continuance is made, then no further notice of the continued hearing is required.” The County has already noticed the September 26, 2025 hearing in the local newspaper. Considering this Motion on the record will afford the parties the opportunity to confer regarding schedules and times for a November hearing, as well as allow any members of the public to observe and listen to these scheduling efforts. IV. CONCLUSION AND REQUEST FOR RELIEF There is good cause to warrant a continuance of this matter of six weeks, to the week of November 3, 2025. The Applicant will be prepared to address the entirety of the Hearing Examiner’s September 4, 2025 Order at that time. It is hereby requested that the Hearing Examiner convene the September 26, 2025 hearing for the purpose of considering this Motion and scheduling another hearing date. I, Dean Williams, am over the age of 18, am competent to testify, and have personal knowledge of the matters stated herein. I hereby declare under penalty of perjury under the law of Washington that the foregoing is true and correct. RECEIVED 09/19/25 EXHIBIT 59 LAW OFFICES GORDON THOMAS HONEYWELL LLP 600 University St., Suite 2430 Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 676-7500 - FACSIMILE (206) 676-7575 MOTION TO CONTINUE HEARING - PAGE 4 OF 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 DATED this 19th day of September, 2025, in Renton, Washington. GORDON THOMAS HONEYWELL LLP By: Dean Williams, WSBA #52901 Attorneys for Applicant Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County 25-09-19 Motion to Continue Hearing Final RECEIVED 09/19/25 EXHIBIT 59 LAW OFFICES GORDON THOMAS HONEYWELL LLP 600 University St., Suite 2430 Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 676-7500 - FACSIMILE (206) 676-7575 MOTION TO CONTINUE HEARING - PAGE 5 OF 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 DECLARATION OF SERVICE I, Benita K. Lamp, am a resident of the State of Tennessee, over the age of 18 and hereby state that on this date, I caused to be served a true and correct copy of the foregoing MOTION TO CONTINUE HEARING, upon all counsel and parties of record at their addresses and in the manner listed below. Carolyn Gallaway, Clerk Adiel F. McKnight, Deputy Clerk Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners Via E–Mail: carolyn@co.jefferson.wa.us AFMcKnight@co.jefferson.wa.us Mo-chi Lindblad, Primary Planner Greg Ballard, Code Administrator Jefferson County Department of Community Development Via E–Mail: MLindblad@co.jefferson.wa.us GBallard@co.jefferson.wa.us Ariel Speser Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jefferson County Via E–Mail: aspeser@co.jefferson.wa.us I declare under the penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Tennessee that the foregoing is true and correct. DATED this 19th day of September, 2025, in Nolensville, Tennessee. BENITA K. LAMP RECEIVED 09/19/25 EXHIBIT 59