by Ilsa Perse, President, Stop the Dump Coalition. Arnie Hollander contributed to this article.
It is not often that we get to say "good news" and "dump" in the same sentence, but today we can do just that. Last night at the Yamhill County Planning Commission meeting, the County Planning Department staff recommended that the Commission DENY (yes, DENY) Waste Management's application to rezone the dump to EFU land. Rezoning would have opened the door for the landfill to expand.
This was a stunning turn of events. After some convoluted deliberation, the Commissioners themselves voted against Waste Management's application.
The Planning Department recommendation cited Waste Management's failure to adequately protect Goal 3 values (preservation of farmland) or to demonstrate a need for the proposed uses, and the lack of a reclamation plan for the landfill.
Under state law, a landfill cannot be sited on farmland unless the state Department of Environmental Quality first determines that the site can be reclaimed for farm use. DEQ has yet to make a determination about Riverbend, a 96-acre, 13-story high, 10,000,000-tons of garbage mountain next to a river.
Planning Director Mike Brandt cited testimony by the Stop the Dump Coalition as instrumental in pointing out deficiencies in Waste Management's application.
Waste Management must now make a choice: proceed to an already-scheduled hearing before the County Board of Commissioners set for December 12, knowing that the Planning Department will recommend denial, or withdraw its application and resubmit an "improved" application later.
This puts expansion opponents in a strong position going into the Commissioners' hearing if that is how Waste Management elects to proceed. Of course, this is where YOU come in!
We need your voice!
WHAT: County Commissioners' Meeting on Waste Management's Application to Rezone the Landfill. Approval means the landfill gets to EXPAND.
WHEN: Thursday, December 12, at 10:00 AM
WHERE: McMinnville Civic Hall-200 Second Street McMinnville (corner of Baker)
DETAILS: The entire proceedings from the Planning Commission hearing in November will be forwarded to the County Commissioners. If you weighed in via a letter or spoke at the Planning Commission hearing, the County Commissioners already have your comments.
If you didn't have a chance to voice your concerns earlier in November, or you have something new you would like to add, please send your thoughts to the Yamhill County Planning Department with instructions to place your comments in the record for the COUNTY COMMISSIONERS hearing December 12th.
Email Ken Friday (fridayk@co.yamhill.or.us) at the Yamhill County Planning Department that you do not want the County to rezone the landfill. If you can focus your comments on a demonstrable need for farmland in Yamhill County, the unlikelihood of turning the dump into a farm use, or alternative ways your garbage can be handled, please do so. Please include your name and snail mail address. The Planning Department needs to be able to mail you the decision.
Snail Mail: Yamhill County Planning Department
Attn: Ken Friday
You have all done so much already. However, there is one more hearing where your attendance will make a huge difference.
We hope you can attend on DECEMBER 12th, at 10 AM.
As always, please send me questions and comments.
THANK YOU again for all that you have done.
Ilsa Perse
Stop the Dump Coalition
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