With two council members excused (Ladenburg, Fleming), the Pierce County Council voted unanimously to close (vacate) the section of 180th Street East in Frederickson to allow the James Hardie plant to expand in the next couple years.

There were only two speakers in public comment. One was a representative of the Economic Development Department. The other was Marianne Lincoln, a local resident and editor of the Pierce Prairie Post.

Ordinance 2013-36s contained five sections that laid out the findings and process.

Section 1 found the right of way described of limited utility and upon completion of the conditions in Section 3, the public would benefit.

Section 2 contained the authorization to close the described section of roadway, the description of the roadway and that this could not take place until conditions in Section 3-5 are met.

Section 3 stipulated the vacation can only occur if the conditions are complied with:

• A cul-de-sac at the east end of 180th Street
• James Hardie coordinate and fund the relocation of all the utilities in the vacated apportion of the roadway
• James Hardie being responsible for temporary vehicle access through the plant site in the event of an emergency blocking regular access as part of an emergency access plan which will be submitted to the County Engineer for approval.
• Traffic mitigation measures set forth in the Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance (MDNS) including construction of the extension of 50th Ave. E., a traffic signal at 50th Ave and 176th Street E, and restriction of that 176th Street access to a right turn only.

Section 4 required James Hardie to pay for the assessed value of the existing roadway. James Hardie is required to submit a real estate appraisal to the County Engineer to establish the value. If it is accepted by the county Engineer, James Hardie will remit payment for that value.

Section 5 state the Ordinance is not effective until the conditions have been met and accepted by the County Engineer, at that time the road can be formally and finally closed.