News & Info

Supreme Court to Hear OMB Case

On February 5, 2008, the Washington State Supreme Court - Department One agreed to hear Thurston County v. Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board (WWGMHB) involving the Growth Board's decision (based on a complaint filed by Futurewise) in 2005 that portions of the Thurston County Comprehensive Plan and development regulations were not in compliance with the Growth Management Act.

On February 6, 2008, Futurewise's attorney, Tim Trohimovich, was quoted by the Olympian as saying "Our recommendation to the Court was not to take it"... "but apparently the Supreme Court decided it was worth taking."

Olympia Master Builders (OMB) Builders' Council Chair, Stuart Drebick, said "For once, Trohimovich is correct... the case is worth taking. His comments seemed to suggest Futurewise has some pull with the Supreme Court when determining what the Court will or will not review." Department One of the Supreme Court considered forty-five Petitions for Review on February 5 and granted only four - one of which was Thurston County v. WWGMHB.

Drebick commented "With so many denials for review and only four reviews granted, two things seem clear. Futurewise isn't as influential as they would like to think they are and this is clearly a case deserving of review." Oral arguments will begin March 20, 2008, and Pacific Legal Foundation will argue on behalf of the Building Industry of Washington (BIAW) and OMB.