Will metal shredder proposal move forward? Here’s what Whatcom decided on possible ban
Whatcom County rejected a one-year ban on new applications for heavy industry in a city’s urban growth area, even as a recycling company submitted plans for a metal shredding facility near Bellingham in advance of the ordinance and likely will be allowed to proceed with its proposal.
County Council members voted 3-3-1 on the one-year ban after nearly three hours of public testimony and discussion Tuesday night.
Council members Tyler Byrd, Ben Elenbaas and Kathy Kershner voted against the proposed moratorium and Kaylee Galloway abstained.
Galloway, who said she was undecided, sought unsuccessfully to table the measure.
Councilman Todd Donovan said he co-sponsored the measure because “we dropped the ball” and hadn’t changed zoning in the area sooner.
“There’s nowhere else where we have this kind of zoning,” he said. “Our county plans say this is where affordable housing is going to go.”
Councilwoman Kathy Kershner said she favors a “stakeholder work group” series of discussions between residents and those interested in development.
“It’s at the tail end of the runway for the airport. [But] there’s housing built in the Wood neighborhood and that can certainly be a legitimate concern,” she said.
Whatcom County’s proposed measure doesn’t mention a specific business, but testimony during a public hearing on Tuesday made it clear that ABC Recycling, which wants to build the metal shredder and recycling facility near the Lehigh Northwest Concrete factory off Marine Drive, had prompted the measure.
ABC Recycling owns the site of the proposed development, which is valued at more than $3 million and is located near homes north of the Bellingham city limits.
Public testimony
Many nearby residents said they opposed the ban, citing increased noise, truck traffic and pollution from the proposed plant.
“Yes, autos and appliances must be recycled. [But] even the most technologically advanced shredders are not safe enough to be placed next to a residential neighborhood,” Sarah Gardner of Birchwood said.
Robert Koch, who lives on Marine Drive, said the shredder will cause property values to decline.
“There have been more residences built in the past 25 years. It would be a permanent blight on our neighborhood. I think there are much better uses for that property. It’s entirely wrong,” Koch told the county council.
But others, including union members and Port of Bellingham officials, opposed the ban because of its chilling effect on the local economy.
Scott Campbell, who lives near the proposed shredder, said he represents more than 300 local members of the United Steelworkers whose jobs allow them to support their families despite the high local cost of living.
“I’ve been able to buy a home and give back to my community for 16 years,” Campbell said.
Enacting the moratorium would discourage new businesses and endanger living-wage jobs, he said.
Rob Fix, executive director of the Port of Bellingham, also asked the council to reject the temporary ban.
“This would affect the Port. It would affect our investment in that area and it would affect jobs,” Fix said.
Development plan submitted
ABC Recycling formally submitted its application materials Monday for its proposed facility, just one day before the County Council was set to revisit its moratorium on new heavy industry.
“We believe that we’re vested,” said ABC Recycling’s Riley Sweeney. “A moratorium is a poor substitute for the regulatory process. This moratorium impacts more than just us. It impacts businesses and organizations throughout that area, including a port property that they’re looking to develop into an economic center.”
The proposed metal shredder facility, which has drawn significant community backlash, would process post-consumer goods like depolluted vehicles, old water tanks and washing machines. The shredded metal would then be transported to the company’s existing shipping facility at the Port of Bellingham and shipped to various steel mills overseas to be melted for future use into things including rebar, I-beams and sheet metal.
“I think that a lot of people’s concerns are based on fear of what could be,” Sweeney said. “But I hope folks that look at what we’re actually proposing to do. It’s a reasonable, safe and responsible proposal that helps process materials in our community from our community.”
Community members have also expressed significant concern about the noise generated from ABC Recycling’s port facility, prompting both the city and county to make plans for mitigation and discourage the company’s planned expansion.
Sweeney said a lot of the concerns that neighbors have about the proposed facility, including noise impacts and pollution, will be addressed in the SEPA process. The company will be required to apply for an air quality permit, study the transportation impacts, manage stormwater and limit emissions.
“We look forward to meeting or exceeding those environmental standards,” Sweeney said.
