Hearing examiner rules against expansion of Granite Falls gravel pit

GRANITE FALLS — A hearing examiner has decided that, for now, a gravel pit cannot increase its gravel mining operation to nearly triple its current size.

Snohomish County hearing examiner Millie Judge found March 10 that Snohomish County and Menzel Lake Gravel did not address certain environmental impacts that could result from the proposed expansion of the gravel pit.

Menzel Lake Gravel is a mining business located on county land about a mile outside of the city. Owner Rob Hild applied to the county in November 2008 to expand his 51-acre business north, west and south to 283 acres. Of the 232 additional acres, Menzel Lake Gravel plans to expand mining in 91 acres and preserve the rest.

Judge wrote that Menzel Lake Gravel did not submit an environmental checklist at the time it filed an application for the proposed expansion as required by the county. The checklist, submitted in December 2009, failed to address possible impacts caused by an additional 132 daily truck trips on the intersection of Alder Avenue and Pioneer Street in Granite Falls.

She also found that county officials did not address pedestrian safety along Alder Avenue or road maintenance and repair.

Judge’s decision granted an appeal of the project that the city filed with the county in November.

The city wrote in a Jan. 3 hearing brief that the intersection used by the trucks will not be large enough to handle up to 200 truck trips per day. Additionally, the street isn’t wide enough for large gravel trucks that turn east and north, which cut across private property on the northwest corner of the intersection or take up room in the oncoming traffic lane on Alder Avenue.

“The hearing examiner decision obviously represents a good decision and result for the city of Granite Falls,” city Attorney Paul McMurray said.

The county will ask for information from Menzel Lake Gravel to address the specific traffic and road concerns, said Tom Rowe, permitting manager for the county department of planning and development services.

Rowe said he hopes Menzel Lake and Granite Falls officials decide together how to address concerns.

A public hearing was held over a period of three days in late January in Everett. The decision continues the public hearing for six months while the county considers the intersection’s size, putting sidewalks in along Alder Avenue and the impact of increased truck traffic on city streets.

Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491; adaybert@heraldnet.com.