Unpermitted gravel yard near Mukilteo school violates county code

Published 1:30 am Friday, March 8, 2024

Just as zoning codes prohibit marijuana vape shops or adult entertainment establishments adjacent to elementary schools, Snohomish County’s zoning code also explicitly prohibits uncovered aggregate and waste soil operations such as is occurring on OMA Construction’s property near Mukilteo School District’s Fairview Elementary School (“Mining company ordered to stop work next to school south of Everett,” The Herald, Feb. 22)

It appears that county Planning Director Mike McCrary is more concerned about catering to the developer’s profits rather than protecting the public’s health.

OMA’s uncovered aggregate and waste soil transfer operation is fatally flawed and is not allowed under county code at this location by the county’s own zoning ordinances.

While there are other design deficiencies that must be addressed, such as stormwater, traffic, noise, and landscaping, with the design submitted by OMA for required permits, all of these issues take a back seat to the fatally flawed zoning issue given the location of the OMA site next to the Fairmount Elementary.

Before the Mukilteo School District and the public waste any more time and taxpayer money on reviewing the documents that OMA submitted, the county Planning and Development Services must first issue a determination whether or not the project meets the minimum zoning requirements to be placed next to a school.

Permit scofflaws like OMA should not be allowed to profit for their unpermitted operations on property clearly not zoned for aggregate and waste soil storage and transfer. Permit scofflaws must be held accountable for their actions.

Bill Lider

Lynnwood