The Yamhill County Board of Commissioners today approved the application of Riverbend Landfill to rezone the dump from Public Works/Safety to Exclusive Farm Use. Commissioner Kathy George made clear that her vote was based on her desire to see the landfill expand.
The approval is contingent upon seven conditions. The first six relate to a Limited Use Overlay Zone that will be applied to lands surrounding the existing landfill. The LUO will restrict development on those lands and, for the most part, prohibit use of the land for waste disposal purposes. Unfortunately, an LUO can be removed by the same body that imposed it.
The seventh condition is new: The County will require Waste Management to construct a "DEQ approved facility" that provides a "process or procedure to divert municipal solid waste from Riverbend landfill to ... Green Technology." Construction must begin by the earlier of seven years after DEQ issues a permit for the expansion (including "all final appeals") or deposit of 3.6 million tons of waste in the expansion area.
Landfill opponents were quick to note that the condition did not specify a minimum diversion rate.
The Planning Department recommended neither approval nor denial of the rezoning, with Director Mike Brandt stating that, in his opinion, there was evidence in the record to support either choice. There was no discussion of legal issues, such as whether "miscellaneous soils" can legally be zoned EFU. In typical Yamhill County fashion, Brandt did note that the County did not have to deal with whether or not the landfill could satisfy ORS 459.055 (which prohibits DEQ from permitting landfills on EFU land unless the land can be reclaimed for farm use) because DEQ has agreed that this is their job.
The approval returns to the Commissioners for a final vote on February 13. Commissioners will have a chance to review formal "findings" for approval at that time. Any appeal of the Board's decision to the state Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) must be noticed within 21 days thereafter.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Monday, January 6, 2014
Two Businesses Join "Stop the Dump Partners"
Two Yamhill County businesses have joined the Stop the Dump Coalition as Partners.
Brehan Crawford, LAc, has signed up his clinic, McMinnville Community Acupuncture, and Andrea La Rue and her business, Nectar Graphics, have also signed on.
Partners are the visible face of the Stop the Dump movement. Our Partners are "up front" about their opposition to expansion of Riverbend Landfill and about their support for finding alternative ways to handle our solid waste, such as reducing, repurposing, and recycling waste. In past years, Partners have joined us in lawsuits to prevent expansion, held fund-raisers, and helped raise awareness of waste and landfill issues in our communities.
McMinnville Community Acupuncture is a holistic healthcare clinic specializing in Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Nutritional Counseling, and Therapeutic Bodywork. The clinic, which is located on 5th Street in McMinnville, serves the entire Yamhill Valley area.
Nectar Graphics is a full service design studio whose "design whisperers" are proud of the company's growing participation in the wine industry as well as the pro bono work they do for local non-profits. The studio works with a variety of people and businesses, from startup store logos to commercial brands.
You can find out more about these community-minded businesses at http://www.mcaclinic.com and http://nectargraphics.com.
If you would like to sign up your business or organization -- or if you just want to learn more -- contact Susan Watkins at maczenith@onlinenw.com.
Join us in welcoming our new Partners! And then, just join us!
Brehan Crawford, LAc, has signed up his clinic, McMinnville Community Acupuncture, and Andrea La Rue and her business, Nectar Graphics, have also signed on.
Partners are the visible face of the Stop the Dump movement. Our Partners are "up front" about their opposition to expansion of Riverbend Landfill and about their support for finding alternative ways to handle our solid waste, such as reducing, repurposing, and recycling waste. In past years, Partners have joined us in lawsuits to prevent expansion, held fund-raisers, and helped raise awareness of waste and landfill issues in our communities.
McMinnville Community Acupuncture is a holistic healthcare clinic specializing in Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Nutritional Counseling, and Therapeutic Bodywork. The clinic, which is located on 5th Street in McMinnville, serves the entire Yamhill Valley area.
Nectar Graphics is a full service design studio whose "design whisperers" are proud of the company's growing participation in the wine industry as well as the pro bono work they do for local non-profits. The studio works with a variety of people and businesses, from startup store logos to commercial brands.
You can find out more about these community-minded businesses at http://www.mcaclinic.com and http://nectargraphics.com.
If you would like to sign up your business or organization -- or if you just want to learn more -- contact Susan Watkins at maczenith@onlinenw.com.
Join us in welcoming our new Partners! And then, just join us!
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