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Council briefed on Stuck River Road–Mount Rainier Vista subarea plan; consultant hired to prepare planned-action EIS
Summary
Staff described a proposed subarea plan covering roughly 876 acres, a reclamation plan for the long-operating ICON/Auburn pit, and an expected year-and-a-half environmental review process led by consultant OTEC.
The City of Auburn presented next steps for the Stuck River Road–Mount Rainier Vista subarea plan at the Feb. 10 study session and described an agreement to hire OTEC Inc. to prepare a planned-action environmental impact statement and a companion subarea plan.
Assistant Director Steven Serza and Planning Services Manager Alexandria Tighe explained that the project area is approximately 876 acres — a site comparable in size to Lakeland Hills — that includes the long-operating ICON gravel pit (also referred to in the presentation as the Auburn Pit). Segovia Properties LLC (the owner/operator) and the city have coordinated on reclamation planning and consultant studies. Serza said future development will require a reclamation plan to restore vegetation, soil stability and water conditions following mining operations.
Mandy Roberts, principal planner with OTEC, described the consultant team and the proposed scope. The planned action EIS will include scoping with agencies, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and the public; a draft EIS and public comment period; technical studies of utilities, transportation and hydrology; and a final EIS with responses to comments. Roberts said the project will evaluate infrastructure needs, including off-site street and utility upgrades and the potential for a new bridge over the White River, and will analyze alternatives and potential mitigation measures. “Because this is a large area with a lot of complexity to it, we do have a full team assembled to support all of the technical work,” Roberts said.
Staff described a projected schedule that stretches into mid-2026 and five major work stages: discovery, background/conditions, layered resource analysis and alternatives, planned-action/EIS preparation (draft and final), and finalization. The process will include public engagement at key milestones and coordination with tribal representatives and neighboring jurisdictions.
Council members raised concerns about water resources and habitat. Council member Baldwin asked whether the city’s critical-areas update will be completed before subarea analysis; staff said the critical-areas update is intended to be completed by the end of the year and that the two processes will overlap. Several councilors urged careful engagement with Hidden Valley residents, protection of Cold Creek Springs and attention to wildlife corridors; Roberts said engagement would include multiple formats and that the scoping period — typically a formal 30-day comment window — is a key early opportunity for stakeholders to identify issues to be studied in the EIS.
Staff said the city will provide strong oversight as the lead agency and that Segovia/Seagali’s reclamation and consultant studies will inform the EIS. The agreement to have OTEC prepare the subarea plan and planned-action EIS was described in the presentation; no formal adoption or vote was recorded during the study session.
