Washington City Council approves industrial rezones and hillside removal amid resident outcry over truck dust and safety

Washington City Council voted Jan. 28 to reclassify a parcel at Smelter Drive and Foundry Drive for industrial use and to remove roughly 31.17 acres from the city's Hillside Overlay, approving the measures over extensive public comment about truck traffic, fugitive dust and safety on nearby Countryway.

The council approved the general-plan amendment (G-25-08) by roll call, 5'to'0, and a separate zone change for a 0.65'acre parcel at 225 South Smelter Drive (Z-25-25) also passed 5'to'0. The council then approved the larger zone change to remove the hillside designation (Z-25-26) by a 4'to'1 vote; the ordinance carries the condition that final construction grading documents and details of the easterly cut be returned to and signed off by the Hillside Review Board before work proceeds.

Why it matters: The applications are three interlocked land-use proposals that the applicant said would stitch disturbed slopes into a tiered industrial development, reduce the amount of material exported from the valley and create developable industrial lots. Neighbors said the approvals, if advanced without parallel traffic, enforcement and air-quality measures, risk worsening a persistent dust problem and creating safety hazards for residents and children who use neighborhood parks.

What proponents told the council: Eldon Gibb, community development director, said staff and the planning commission had reviewed the requests and recommended approval; the Hillside Review Board had also reviewed the project and provided conditional comments. Bob Hermanson, representing the applicant (JP Excavation), described a grading plan that would "stair-step" lots and tie into an existing higher construction pad. Hermanson told the council that by combining the current approved excavation with the new plan, the project team expects to reduce total export on the combined project from about 4,000,000 cubic yards to about 3,000,000 cubic yards, a 25% reduction he said would lower truck traffic compared with the previously approved work.

What residents said: More than a dozen residents urged the council to delay or add stronger conditions. Ty Prince of Washington Dam Road said oversized semis make sweeping, wide turns that encroach into oncoming lanes and pose "real" risks to children in nearby parks, and asked the council not to approve the zoning changes until truck routing and enforcement are addressed. Other residents provided photos and timestamps of uncovered loads and said dust has settled daily on yards and parked cars. Multiple speakers also asked the city to restrict early-morning operations, restrict engine-braking in neighborhoods, and require enforceable load-covering and wetting practices.

Enforcement, public works and mitigation: Washington City's police chief (identified in meeting remarks as Chief Williams) said targeted enforcement has taken place: in one recent operation an officer issued 21 citations for violations such as speed, stop-sign infractions and uncovered loads. The chief said the police department will continue focused enforcement and coordinate with state commercial-vehicle inspectors. Public works staff said the city already posts signage aimed at engine-brake use, increased street-sweeper frequency in the area, and will study geometric changes (corner radii and median width) and repainting crosswalks to reduce safety risks.

Council's direction and conditions: During deliberations council members repeatedly distinguished the merits of changing the land-use designation'which several said fits the surrounding industrial pattern'from the separate, citywide problem of truck routing and fugitive dust on Countryway. The council-approved removal of the Hillside Overlay (Z-25-26) carried an explicit condition requiring the applicant to return final grading and cut details to the Hillside Review Board for review and sign-off before construction documents are accepted.

Next steps: The council action allows the applicant to pursue zoning and plat-level approvals but ties them to the Hillside Review Board sign-off on the final grading details. Council members also instructed staff to continue working with law enforcement, public works, and local haulers to improve enforcement, sweep schedules and routing; planning staff and the planning commission previously recommended that the city begin a process to identify and designate truck routes in the area.

Representative quotes: "Please do not approve these zoning changes that will increase the traffic until this issue has been appropriately addressed," resident Ty Prince told the council during public comment. "Filled loads are always covered. No Jake brakes. Hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.," Bob Hermanson said on behalf of the applicant. "We issued 21 citations in our recent enforcement effort in that area," the police chief said of a focused patrol operation.

Ending: The council approved the general-plan amendment and the two zone changes on Jan. 28, adopting a condition that the Hillside Review Board sign off on final grading details for the easterly cut; council members pledged to continue enforcement and to evaluate ordinance and route-designation options to address residents' health and safety concerns.