Benton County planning commission unanimously denies Coffin Butte landfill expansion permit

The Benton County Planning Commission voted unanimously to deny a conditional use permit to expand the Coffin Butte Landfill, concluding that the application, as presented, did not meet applicable Benton County Development Code criteria and posed undue burdens on nearby residents and county services. The motion to deny was moved by Commissioner Andrew Struthers and seconded by Vice Chair Hayman; the commission announced a unanimous vote and recessed to adopt written findings at a later meeting.

Commissioners said the record — including dozens of written submissions and public testimony taken over six hearing days — left open significant, unresolved risks tied to odor, noise from blasting and construction, groundwater impacts and leachate treatment, wildfire and fire-response capacity, litter and traffic. Chair Nick Fowler, who praised the applicant’s preparation and staff work in earlier remarks, said he had read the entire record and framed the decision around the county code’s land‑use standards. "The applicant has not only worked with the county in preparation of their application, but has clearly analyzed the feedback from 2021… This really is an example of how the process should work in conditional use permitting," Fowler said during deliberations.

But other commissioners stressed different, persistent gaps. Commissioner Evelyn Lee, who gave a lengthy statement summarizing technical and community concerns, said the application failed the applicant’s burden of proof on groundwater and monitoring and on wildfire…