Everett approves new plant
Cemex’s plan to consolidate two existing plants at the mouth of the Snohomish River won’t disturb the neighborhood, planners say.
A new concrete and asphalt plant is to be constructed on Everett’s northern tip along with a barge- offloading pier and a place to store contaminated soil.
Cemex received the shoreline permits needed to develop a 22-acre industrial site at the mouth of the Snohomish River near Highway 529, Everett, USA, Hearing Examiner James Driscoll ruled Friday.
The decision follows a public hearing on Oct. 30.
Cemex hopes to consolidate two existing plants in Everett. Housing projects are being planned at the two sites where cement and asphalt are mixed and where petroleum hydrocarbons are extracted and removed from contaminated soil.
The company’s lease on an existing asphalt plant on the Everett waterfront a mile west of the proposed new plant expired on Halloween.
The owner of that property, Jeld-Wen, and the Port of Everett, which also owns developable land there, plan to eventually transform the industrial waterfront land into a residential and commercial development.
Cemex also has plans to convert its 300-acre quarry, cement plant and soil remediation operation south of Merrill Creek Parkway in south Everett into hundreds of homes, businesses and parkland.
The new plant northeast of Legion Memorial Golf Course would have to follow city noise ordinances and odor and emissions rules regulated by the Puget Sound Clear Air Agency.
Everett planners who recommended approval of the project say it won’t likely conflict with the neighborhood. The project site is 60ft below the closest homes. There is also a row of large deciduous trees along West Marine View Drive separating the industrial area from homes.
Environmental analysis of the project concludes that it will not generate significant noise, smoke, dust, odour, glare or other undesirable effects.
During peak hours about 50 vehicles will enter or leave the plant per hour, according to a traffic study.
While construction on the asphalt and cement plant is expected to begin soon, the proposed pier to offload barges carrying gravel wouldn’t be constructed for another five to seven years.
Approval of the project came with several conditions, including a requirement to construct a 10ft-wide public trail along the shoreline and to plan a 50ft-wide shoreline buffer with native trees and grasses where possible.
The company also agreed to remove an existing pier in order to take out two sunken barges on the property’s shoreline, to clear 153 treated wood pilings possibly leaching contamination into the estuary, and to lay sandy gravel to create an artificial beach.
The property was previously a paper-pulp mill.
Published under Cement News
