EVERETT – King County on Wednesday got one step closer to making its controversial $1.48 billion Brightwater sewage treatment plant a reality.
In a 4-1 vote, the Snohomish County Council passed a development agreement, which allows King County to move forward with the permitting process on the controversial wastewater treatment plant near Maltby. Councilman Jeff Sax voted against the ordinance.
Wednesday’s vote means the two county governments are done squabbling, said Brightwater project director Christie True.
“Instead of two governments fighting over what the permitting process should be, they’ve decided on one,” she said. “And it meets very stringent standards.”
Next will come a more specific plan for the site, which will map out where the buildings will be located, as well as boundaries, buffers and easements.
Wednesday’s vote was a largely expected move, as the county already had approved a $70 million agreement with King County in mid-October.
That deal stated that King County will agree to better odor control and improved earthquake safety at the site, and will also pay Snohomish County the $70 million gradually as it gets the permits for the sewage treatment plant. Snohomish County will use the money to build parks, roads, sidewalks and bicycle lanes and provide fish protection near the treatment plant site, 114 acres on Highway 9 near Highway 522.
Though the plant is traditionally a hot-button topic at meetings and public hearings, only local labor leaders stepped up to the podium Wednesday, pledging support for the project. Not a single Brightwater opponent spoke at the hearing.
Emma Dixon, a board member of the Sno-King Environmental Alliance, said she and others decided to submit their comments in writing because it’s hard to dispute the project in detail in the three minutes allowed to speakers.
“I don’t think (the vote) was any great surprise,” she said. “It was largely a foregone conclusion, but I am appalled at the way the county is willfully ignoring mounting evidence that suggests that this site needs far more investigation.”
The group’s lawsuit is the lone obstacle in King County’s way.
A hearing examiner this week refused King County’s requests for dismissal, and the case will likely be heard early next year, Dixon said.
True said she’s not worried about the lawsuit, or the future of the project, given that the two counties have reached an agreement.
“We’ve already moved on,” she said.
Reporter Jennifer Warnick: 425-339-3429 or jwarnick@heraldnet.com.
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