Asphalt Batch Plants

On July 20, 2020 the City Council unanimously adopted performance standards for asphalt batch plants in zones where it was already allowed. Now, it is a conditional use, instead of an outright permitted use, in the M-2 to offer additional protections. The Council also unanimously rejected a proposal to add asphalt batching to the General Commercial zone. The final ordinance is available in the Document Library. This decision followed months of public comments and council discussion and a recommendation by the Sumner Planning Commission. The approval, however, maintains a prohibition on asphalt batch facilities in the East Sumner General Commercial zoning where the Corliss Resources main concrete batch facility is located.

The Interim Development Regulations (IDR) were adopted last August by the City Council that temporarily prohibit future expansion of existing facilities or the addition of new facilities. This allowed staff and the State Department of Health to study potential health impacts of asphalt batching facilities. The IDR was extended for 6 months in January and expired on July 20.


On July 20, 2020 the City Council unanimously adopted performance standards for asphalt batch plants in zones where it was already allowed. Now, it is a conditional use, instead of an outright permitted use, in the M-2 to offer additional protections. The Council also unanimously rejected a proposal to add asphalt batching to the General Commercial zone. The final ordinance is available in the Document Library. This decision followed months of public comments and council discussion and a recommendation by the Sumner Planning Commission. The approval, however, maintains a prohibition on asphalt batch facilities in the East Sumner General Commercial zoning where the Corliss Resources main concrete batch facility is located.

The Interim Development Regulations (IDR) were adopted last August by the City Council that temporarily prohibit future expansion of existing facilities or the addition of new facilities. This allowed staff and the State Department of Health to study potential health impacts of asphalt batching facilities. The IDR was extended for 6 months in January and expired on July 20.


Q&A

Do you have any general comments or questions about this topic in general? Ask here and we will respond soon. Please note that because this process is about studying this topic, we may not have a response until the actual assessments return.

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  • Is this where you would like to receive citizen comments in regards to the asphalt plant building built? I know that Ryan had stated it would be open to the public till March 18th. Would like to make sure that the Sumner City Planner Committee has read these comments as well. Thank you,

    Laurenleigh asked about 4 years ago

    Yes, the City is accepting comments until 5PM March 18. Please submit comments to Ryan Windish, Community Development Director; email: ryanw@sumnerwa.gov or drop-off or US Mail to: 

    Ryan Windish, Sumner City Hall, 1104 Maple Street, Sumner, WA 98390


  • I was unable to attend the 2/10/2020 study session. Will you please let us know how to view a video of it, or obtain the meeting minutes so the citizens who could not attend know what was discussed? Thank you.

    SumnerResident asked about 4 years ago

    I posted the audio from the 2/10/2020 City Council Study Session in the Document Library. I apologize for this taking so long, but we don't often get requests for audio and we were seeing if we could adjust the quality of the recording, it is a little hard to hear. 

  • Since you passed the new zoning for Corliss, does that mean they can use accessory as an asphalt plant? So the studies you are currently doing are all for not and it’s a done deal? When will the citizens of Sumner get an update on those studies?

    Linda Till asked over 4 years ago

    When the Council passed zoning amendments, they also passed an Interim Development Regulation which prohibits any new asphalt batch plants until the studies are completed and Council has had time to contemplate the facts and data that will be provided.  The Health Impact Assessment (HIA) will be completed in December.  All reports will be available to the public for review and comment in this forum and at open public meetings and a public hearing.  Please take a look at the schedule on this website and follow us for updates.


  • What has the city done to protect the citizens around the current asphalt plant? How has the city managed to ensure that asphalt plant is filling all EP A rules? Where can I find what the city is doing to ensure the citizens are safe from the current plant?

    Linda Till asked over 4 years ago

    The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency ensures we have clean air to breath in the region.  They play a significant part in permitting and monitoring such uses.  You can contact them at 206-343-8800 and they'll be able to provide you copies of monitoring reports and data of the plant.  To date the City of Sumner hasn't received any complaints for this facility. 

    Additionally, in 2002, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deleted asphalt concrete manufacturing (batch plant) as a source category because “available data indicate that there are no major sources in any of the source categories” (Federal Register, Vol.  67, No. 29, p. 6521). 

  • How is the city going to protect the 3 mile radius of a new asphalt batch plant when the following is within that Radius? 3 mile radius summary: Dieringer well City Water Aquifer Residential housing, commercial Businesses and farmland Lake Tapps 2 rivers - Puyallup and White River 3 Senior Care facilities 7 Towns counting Sumner 2 mile radius: Central Well City Water Aquifer Residential housing, commercial Businesses and Farmland 3 lakes, Lake Tapps, Bonney Lake, Debra Jane Lake 2  rivers Puyallup and White river 13 schools 9 Parks 2 senior care facilities 2 towns Bonney Lake and Sumner 1 mile radius: County Springs City Water Aquifer Elhi Springs City Water Aquifer South Well City Water Aquifer Sumner Springs City Water Aquifer Weber Springs City Water Aquifer A total of 5 of our seven city water Supplies are within a 1 mile radius! Residential housing, commercial Businesses and Farmland ‪Puyallup River‬ Salmon Creek, Salmon Springs 1 School 3 Parks YMCA 5 Senior Care Facilities 2 towns Sumner and Bonney Lake In conclusion, if you don't get a handle on this catastrophe problem that is waiting to happen, we will all suffer not only with our health, but our water supplies, food that we eat, rivers, lakes, springs and stream pollution and our property devaluation all for Corliss Corporate profits! I think the citizens of Sumner and our surrounding towns deserve better than that. Please vote “NO” for Corliss asphalt plant in Sumner. Thank you

    Linda Till asked over 4 years ago

    The City has partnered with the State Department of Health, who will provide us a Health Impact Assessment for asphalt batch plants in general. This study will provide facts and data to help the City Council make an educated decision about future zoning allowances throughout the city. This report will be available to the public in December. Please keep in mind the City Council only has jurisdiction over areas within our city limits. Pierce County’s zones already allow for asphalt batch plants as a conditional use.

Page last updated: 28 Jul 2020, 09:19 AM