2019 Bombshell: It’s Not 2,000 New Warehouse Trucks … Public Disclosure Request Shows 6,723 Trips/Day

A public disclosure request was made to the city of Puyallup, verifying whether an additional 1,750 semi-trucks per day are expected from 7 new mega #warehouses on Shaw Road farmland. Turns out it’s 6,723 NEW TRIPS per day. #VOTE like your time in traffic depends on it!

Check out this MAP OF 7 NEW WAREHOUSES proposed on PUYALLUP VALLEY FARMLAND causing an additional stated 1,750 SEMI-TRUCKS PER DAY on Shaw Road & Main Street connecting Puyallup & Sumner:

https://www.cityofpuyallup.org/1115/Knutson-Farms-EIS-Project?fbclid=IwAR2Lc5KooFl6uf6rHu7aw-3bqSyh70fwC2F_jXNN0NCng_2yyl_2nuOg-Co

Re: Transportation, particularly transportation systems and traffic –

Whereas on page 12 of the Feb 2, 2016 Knutsen warehouse proposal “Traffic Impact Analysis” public disclosure request (received on 11/01/19) shows that the development will generate a total of 6,723 new vehicle trips per day (in and out, including approximately 1,750 semis according to http://cityofpuyallup.org/…/Puyallup-Valley-Warehouse…) plus small trucks and private vehicles; therefore to proceed with this warehouse project, the developer must first (pay to) upgrade all roads to 4 lanes including East Pioneer, 80th St SE, and the Orting Hwy over the Puyallup River to Hwy 410.

Re: Public services and utilities, including stormwater, sanitary sewer and fire flow and fire protection services –

City of Puyallup planning engineers have an excellent handle on what is needed, with all water runoff filtered, water and sewer paid for throughout the life of the buildings so taxpayers never have to subsidize them. Project proponents must also be ordered to stop bringing the city to court over its requirements. Their sue-happy lawyers have already cost local government and taxpayers far too much time and money.

Re: Water, plants and animals –

There should be a full environmental restoration corridor created along the Puyallup River, a 300 foot buffer from the river’s edge. Proponents should extend the Puyallup Riverwalk through the area from the East Main Street bridge, to the Foothills Trail – East Puyallup Trailhead, with skyway pedestrian/bicycle bridge built over 80th St SE. Property owner must continue to manage the restoration of the 300 foot river buffer corridor, or pay for local government to do so.

Re: Cultural resources: –

Puyallup Tribe cultural resource specialists have an excellent handle on what is needed. In regards to the settler heritage, the warehouses completely destroy that: see above (environmental buffer 300 feet from river, and green roof/terracing idea) and below (reconversion of community ag lands elsewhere in the valley) for mitigation measures.

Re: Noise –

Trucks must be required to enter/exit directly to Hwy 410 in order to prevent noise and road degredation on Puyallup city streets. In other words, no direct access to Hwy 512 or up the hill on city streets.

Re: Air quality, including green house gases –

All warehouses must be required to have solar panels and/or vegetation (native plants or agricultural crops) covering the entirety of otherwise empty roof space. Minimum solar must, at a minimum, offset energy use of buildings, asphalt construction, and the 6,723 vehicle trips/day averaging a distance of 30 miles each.

Re: Land and shoreline use, including aesthetics, recreation, agricultural crops, and the project’s relationship to existing land use plans –

As stated above, there should be a 300 foot environmental buffer corridor between the river and any development, housing the “missing link” of the Riverwalk Trail – Foothills Trail. The buffer would be a full environmental restoration of the Puyallup River streambank with with additional vegetative buffering to eventually “hide” warehouses from the trail. All warehouse walls should be terraced to grow vegetation (native or agricultural crops) with a goal of no empty wall space visible from any direction. All asphalt areas must be bordered by native “rain garden” runoff areas with a property easement ensuring they are maintained as such in perpetuity by property owners.

Re: Alternatives –

Priorities for this land should be 1) farmland and parks, meaning this proposal should be denied, or 2) if unable to retain the first priority, then instead of warehouses, create an “east towne center” with mix of commercial retail, upstairs condo residential, very light manufacturing, plus high tech tenants similar to Barclay Village.

Re: Mitigation measures –

In addition to the above mitigation ideas, property developers must buy and restore an equal number of unused agricultural lands in the Puyallup River – Orting Valley for a community farming project, offering use at $1/acre/applicant.

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