SUPPLEMENTAL STAFF REPORT # 3

DATE: May 17, 2006

TO: Pierce County Planning Commission

FROM: C.E "Chip" Vincent, Principal Planner, Advance Planning
Steve Wamback, Solid Waste Administrator, Public Works and Utilities

BY: Katherine Brooks, Senior Planner, Advance Planning

SUBJECT: GRAHAM COMMUNITY PLAN

SUMMARY: During the review of the proposed Graham Community Plan and implementing regulations one issue arose that warranted further discussion and potential modification. This supplemental staff report contains an overview of that issue, as well as some alternative proposals for consideration.

NOTICE: Notice of Planning Commission public hearings was published in the Tacoma News Tribune, the Peninsula Gateway, and the Eatonville Dispatch on May 3, 2006.

SEPA: Environmental review has been conducted pursuant to Pierce County Code, Title 18D, Development Regulations-Environmental and WAC 197-11. A draft integrated supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) has been issued.

BACKGROUND:

Waste Disposal Facilities and Waste Transfer Facilities
The Graham Community Plan area contains one of the County's main solid waste landfill facilities, which is located in the vicinity of 304th Street E. and SR-161 (referred to as the 304th Street landfill facility). The Community Planning Board recommended Graham Community Plan and implementing development regulations prohibited solid waste disposal facilities and limited waste transfer facilities within the plan area, including the zones containing the 304th Street landfill facility.

These provisions as well as current State law requirements were discussed in Planning Commission Supplemental Staff Report #1, dated February 22, 2006. This staff report also recommended proposed amendment language to address the 304th Street landfill, including creating a new Essential Public Facilities - Solid Waste Facility Overlay (EPF-SWFO) and allowing accessory uses to landfill operations. On March 1, 2006, the Planning Commission asked the Solid Waste Division (Division) to consider additional options to resolve this issue. On March 8, 2006, Steve Wamback, Solid Waste Administrator, provided the Planning Commission with three different options for discussion and consideration. The Planning Commission rejected all alternatives and forwarded the Graham Community Plan and implementing regulations to the County Council with the CPB recommended solid waste handling facility language intact.

It is the County's position that the current proposal addresses solid waste handling facilities in a way that is inconsistent with State law and adopted County plans and therefore this issue is being referred back to the Planning Commission for further discussion and consideration of proposed alternatives. See attached letter from Executive John Ladenburg to Councilmember Shawn Bunney dated April 18, 2006.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends Planning Commission consideration of three different alternative amendments to the Graham Community Plan and implementing development regulations to address the solid waste handling issue. Each of these three alternatives complies with current State law and County plans. Refer to memorandum from Steve Wamback, dated April 28, 2006.