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Residents urge council to oppose long‑term Cumberland gravel/asphalt project, cite truck traffic, noise and water concerns
Summary
Multiple residents told the council a proposed Cumberland‑area gravel and asphalt plant could run 24/7 for decades, add heavy truck traffic through Enumclaw, require large daily water withdrawals (speaker cited 175,000–250,000 gallons), and harm wells, noise levels and roads; the public comment period to King County remains open through Aug. 7, speaker Julius Stevens said.
Several residents used the public‑comment period to press the council on land‑use and environmental concerns tied to a proposed Cumberland aggregate mine and asphalt plant.
Julius Stevens, who identified himself as a resident of unincorporated King County just outside Enumclaw, asked the council to review King County project materials and left copies with the city clerk. He said the project contemplates 25–35 years of gravel extraction and described potential operational impacts: "it literally is a 24 hour operation 7 days a week," he said, and warned that adding heavy trucks would affect Enumclaw’s roads and emergency services. Stevens told the council the project might need "175,000 to 250,000 gallons a day" for operations and urged the city to submit comments to King County (the county comment period was cited as open through Aug. 7).
Linda Stevens (self‑identified) urged the council to help preserve roughly 990 acres north of Cumberland around Lizard Mountain, describing the area’s recreational access, concerns about well‑water impacts from large projects and interest from county or state entities in potential conservation.
A third commenter introduced by the mayor as Malinaro warned council members that converting the former Moose Lodge into a nightclub or event center with alcohol in or next to a residential area can generate repeated complaints and called out the municipal noise‑control code (Chapter 8) as a review item for council consideration.
Why it matters: the comments raise transportation, water‑resource and noise‑control issues tied to a large, long‑term extraction project that King County is reviewing. Those impacts — heavy‑truck routing, road wear, noise and well impacts — are matters of municipal concern when regional permitting could route traffic through city streets or affect local services.
What the council can do: speakers asked the council to review project materials, consider formal comment to King County before the Aug. 7 deadline and monitor potential impacts to wells, roads and emergency response. The council did not take formal action on the project during the meeting; speakers left written materials with the city clerk for council and staff review.
Direct quotes: "When you have time, if you would look at the proposed project details, they're looking at 25 to 35 years of removing gravel from the area," Julius Stevens said.
"They're looking at needing 175,000 to 250,000 gallons a day to run the operation," Stevens said.
Next steps: the public comment period remains open with King County; staff and council members may review submitted materials and decide whether to file comments or request further analysis.
