Bellevue council approves sale of city property to Millman Lumber after questions on truck routes and noise

The Bellevue City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve Ordinance 4208, authorizing the sale and conveyance of roughly 6.1 acres of city-owned property to Millman Lumber, a wholesale lumber distributor that plans to relocate its Millard operation to Bellevue.

Dan Millman, one of the company’s owners, told the council the business is wholesale-only — “we are not a Home Depot” — and that the yard will primarily serve retail lumber yards, operate Monday through Friday, and require early-morning loading and unloading. “We’re not a retail operation,” Millman said while describing inbound 18-wheelers and forklifts used to load trucks.

Why it matters: The site sits near residential streets where councilmembers and residents have previously raised concerns about large-truck traffic, noise and light spill. Councilmembers pressed Millman and city staff about routes heavy trucks will use to reach the interstate, the number of daily truck visits and how the city will limit impacts on Hancock Street and Old Town.

Council questions centered on three issues: noise from equipment and backup beepers, lighting for safe early-morning operations, and truck routing and enforcement. Millman told the council forklifts must use backup alarms under OSHA and cannot be disabled; he said lighting will be directed and approved through planning. He estimated an early operational level of roughly 8–10 heavy-truck movements per day once the site is fully in use, with initial days likely fewer while inventory and operations scale up.

City staff described planned streetscape changes and a formal truck route that will direct most heavy vehicles toward Highway 34 rather than through downtown residential streets. “Once we establish the truck route, it will push that traffic to Highway 34,” city public-works staff said, adding that signage and targeted enforcement (warnings followed by citations) can reduce noncompliant truck movements over time.

Staff also told the council the city is negotiating relocation options for the public-works shop and anticipates steps to prepare a replacement facility; a target timeline discussed with the applicant linked site availability and move-out windows to mid–2027 to late 2027. City staff described negotiations with design firms and temporary relocation options for crews while the new facility is built.

The council opened and then closed the public hearing before voting. A councilmember moved to approve the ordinance and the motion, seconded by Councilwoman Welch, carried with all members voting in favor.

What happens next: Ordinance 4208 was approved at third reading after the public hearing; staff will continue coordination on truck-route designation, lighting approvals through planning, and the staged relocation of public-works operations tied to the city’s facility timeline.