Joe Citizen’s chance to say where King County should build its $80 million southend recycling and transfer station ended Feb. 3.
As for the county’s environmental review of the three sites under consideration — at 901 C St. SW in Auburn east of The Outlet Collection, 28721 West Valley Hwy. S., in Auburn, or at 35101 West Valley Highway S., in Algona — that goes on.
“We received a lot of comments fairly late in the public comment period, and we’re compiling those comments, developing answers to questions that were asked,” said Doug Williams, media relations coordinator for King County. “We’re hoping to get this all wrapped up within a month. We expect a final recommendation on the overall transfer station plan to go to the county council in early March.”
After the County decided in 2011 that the Algona station, among many others, was outmoded and needed to be replaced, its solid waste division began scouting the south end for land.
The 15-acre site at 28721 W. Valley Highway emerged in the fall of 2012 as the county’s surprise, preferred alternative, much to the distress of West Hill residents, who came out strongly against a transfer station below them.
Citing numerous reasons, including the truck traffic it would add to already burdened streets, the Auburn City Council declared in May 2013 that it did not want the transfer station anywhere inside city limits.
The transfer and waste management plan is one part of the county’s overall effort to update its solid waste management plan.
“We’re in the final leg of our long effort to update our overall solid waste management plan,” Williams said. “This work includes updating our transfer station planning documents, which will help inform any decisions about moving forward with any transfer station replacements and upgrades well into the future.”
The plan may be viewed at your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/about/planning/comp-plan.asp.
