Pierce County has issued a Public Notice for a project by SCS Engineers, 2405 140th Ave. NE STE 107, Bellevue, WA 98005. The applicant is planning to add a facility at the LRI Landfill in the Graham area. This facility will convert landfill gas into electricity and compressed natural gas. The electricity will be sold to Puget Sound Energy (PSE) and the compressed natural gas will be sold for use as a vehicle fuel.

There is a Public Hearing scheduled before the Graham Advisory Commission, September 27, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. This will be held at the Graham Fire & Rescue Station 21-4, 23014 70^th Ave. E., Graham, WA. Parking is limited; carpooling is encouraged.

The permit application is also scheduled for the Hearings Examiner on October 11, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. in the Public Services Building (Annex) South Entrance, planning Meeting Room, 2401 S. 35^th St., Tacoma, WA.

More information can be found at this Pierce County Department of Planning and Land Services link.  There are on the tabs at the permit link, including related documents, permits and reviews. Some of the review comments are below.

Comments by Planner Diedre Wilson:

1) Provide a revised site plan that clearly indicates the property lines of parcel 0417103006 and the relationship of the building, parking area and critical areas to the property lines.

2) Provide notes on the site plan that indicate the square footage of the building. The square footage on the plans submitted appears to be approximately 13,500. The Master Application indicates that the first phase includes only 8,250 square feet. Please indicate the phasing plans on the site plan.

3) Provide more detail on how the proposal meets the off-street parking standards of the code. Specifically, how many employees and/or visitors are expected at the facility and how many shifts will there be. Parking lot landscaping will be required if the parking area accommodates 10 or more vehicles. The site plan indicates access will be from a future permanent perimeter road serving the landfill. What is the status of the permitting and construction of this perimeter road?

4) Provide a landscape plan that includes landscape buffering to meet the standards of Title 18J.15. At a minimum L4 landscape buffering is required along Meridian, L3 for abutting properties and 65% of the native vegetation on that site shall be retained. If existing vegetation on site satisfies the L3/L4 buffer requirement, please indicate such on the landscape plan and provide corresponding photographs.

5) Provide information on the status of the relocation of Woodbrook road. Please note that the new road will be required to include street trees along both sides.

6) Explain how the proposal meets the LID design standard that structures shall not be placed where damage to the integrity of the open space corridor and system is likely. The SEPA checklist indicates that 4,500 square feet of wetland is proposed to be filled. (Full review of the LID components of the proposal will be conducted by Development Engineering and Resource Management will conduct a full review of all wetland components).

7) Architectural style for the proposal must meet the design standards of Chapter 18J.80. It does not appear that the elevations submitted, which indicate the siding and roof material to be metal, meet the requirement for a design that evokes rural feel. Acceptable materials include wood, shake, stone, brick, cedar shingle or timber materials. Please revise the building elevations to meet the standards of Chapter 18J.80.

8) According to the SEPA checklist, slopes on site are 2-3%. Given these relatively insignificant slopes, please explain the need for 20,000 cubic yards of fill necessary to create a 1.8 acre facility pad. The Noise Mitigation plan indicates the fill is necessary to provide good access to fuel transport trucks, please explain. Please note that bulk and design standard deviations for Title 18A would require application of a Variance and for Title 18J would require application of Site Plan Review. I have an inquiry pending with the Health Department for a response regarding the following Title 18A use category standard: Generation of electricity from landfill gas [is allowed as a Level 1 facility] if the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department determines this method as a Best Available Control Technology for the control of odor and air emissions from a permitted landfill located within an Essential Public Facility – Solid Waste Facility Overlay (EPF-SWFO) as set forth in 18A.33.160 H.

Comments by Planner Lori Roosendaahl

The following general comments are made for the above project. More specific requirements cannot be made until additional information and/or plans are submitted. A Building-Fire meeting shall be held prior to application for any building permits. At the meeting more specific requirements will be detailed. Emergency Vehicle Access (EVA) is required to be 24-feet wide and paved and extend to within 150-feet of the perimeter of all buildings. Turning radii along the EVA route shall be not less than 20-feet inside and 45-feet outside. Dead-ends that exceed 150-feet in length shall be provided with an approved turnaround. Some modification of the access requirements may be made due to the installation of fire sprinklers. Commercial fire flow is required for this project. Rural fire protection credits may be used, however installation of a fire sprinkler system will be required. Fire alarm and fire sprinkler requirements will be determined at time of application for the building permit. A Technical Opinion and Report shall be provided, prior to the Building-Fire meeting, which analyzes the fire safety properties of the design, operation and use of the building or premises and the facilities and appurtenances situated there on. Additional fire code permits will be required and will be discussed at the meeting. Project file created.