New Operations Facility

We're building a new City Operations Facility that supports the people and equipment for Public Works and Parks to keep our roads, utilities, public lands and more in good shape. Built in 2001, the existing City Shops facility has been out-grown for a long time. Because it’s located along the river, the current site does not have room to expand. It’s time to move.

Located on 29th Street, just off 142nd Avenue, the new facility sits between warehouses and residential homes. It serves as a noise and visual buffer between these two rather different neighbors. Visually, the architects connected the gabled roof lines of historic residential farmhouses with the flat-roofed, streamlined design of modern warehouses. Pergolas and exposed beams echo Sumner’s past industries, especially lumber, while sleeker new siding and finishes keep the new buildings fresh and modern.

The layout is all about connections too. Storage of materials like gravel and sand go closest to the residential border while staff parking and higher traffic uses stay on the side bordering warehouses. A high wall and green space also buffer the facility from the residential neighborhood. Sidewalk improvements add connections, filling in the missing sidewalk on 29th Street E, and connecting new amenities around the 24th Street interchange plus the Sumner Link Trail. Most importantly, this facility connects easily to the rest of the city, giving Public Works & Parks good access to quickly respond to water and sewer issues, plow and sweep streets, replace down street signs, etc.

Review our FAQ's (to the right) for common questions and more details. There are also questions and answers below asked by you, the public. If you don't see what you're wondering, ask!

The new Operations Facility project is expected to go to bid in Quarter 1 2024 and includes construction of a new public works facility with approximately 88,000 sf of total building space over 7 buildings on a 7.6 Acre site at 14320 29th Street East. The new Operations Facility will include an administration building, vehicle storage, fleet washing, material storage and a decant facility. The project will include frontage improvements, landscaping, site lighting and stormwater management.

We're building a new City Operations Facility that supports the people and equipment for Public Works and Parks to keep our roads, utilities, public lands and more in good shape. Built in 2001, the existing City Shops facility has been out-grown for a long time. Because it’s located along the river, the current site does not have room to expand. It’s time to move.

Located on 29th Street, just off 142nd Avenue, the new facility sits between warehouses and residential homes. It serves as a noise and visual buffer between these two rather different neighbors. Visually, the architects connected the gabled roof lines of historic residential farmhouses with the flat-roofed, streamlined design of modern warehouses. Pergolas and exposed beams echo Sumner’s past industries, especially lumber, while sleeker new siding and finishes keep the new buildings fresh and modern.

The layout is all about connections too. Storage of materials like gravel and sand go closest to the residential border while staff parking and higher traffic uses stay on the side bordering warehouses. A high wall and green space also buffer the facility from the residential neighborhood. Sidewalk improvements add connections, filling in the missing sidewalk on 29th Street E, and connecting new amenities around the 24th Street interchange plus the Sumner Link Trail. Most importantly, this facility connects easily to the rest of the city, giving Public Works & Parks good access to quickly respond to water and sewer issues, plow and sweep streets, replace down street signs, etc.

Review our FAQ's (to the right) for common questions and more details. There are also questions and answers below asked by you, the public. If you don't see what you're wondering, ask!

The new Operations Facility project is expected to go to bid in Quarter 1 2024 and includes construction of a new public works facility with approximately 88,000 sf of total building space over 7 buildings on a 7.6 Acre site at 14320 29th Street East. The new Operations Facility will include an administration building, vehicle storage, fleet washing, material storage and a decant facility. The project will include frontage improvements, landscaping, site lighting and stormwater management.

Ask a question about this project!

Have a question about this project? Add it here and Project Manager Doug Beagle will respond.

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  • I live on 145th so this will be going in my backyard. Can we expect a lot of noice from this new shop? Will you be planting any trees as a buffer between our backyards and your shop? And will the city now be maintaining the sidewalk and flowerbed and trees that are planted along it all the way from the main road back to 145th? Also, when do you plan to break ground? Thank you for putting up with all my questions. 😀 -Amy Sponberg

    Amy Sponberg asked almost 4 years ago

    Amy,

    In our current design there is a 20’ buffer between your back yard fence an a wall that runs along the Eastern side of our project, this wall will be 10 to 12 feet tall (still to be determined how high), this area will also be planted with trees and shrubs for buffering and aesthetics.  The frontage of the operation facility will have sidewalks that connect from the development to the existing sidewalk on the west end of the project. This connection is very important to the city as it is always good to connect gaps in sidewalks for pedestrian safety. There will also be landscaping to include trees and ground plantings. Our current plan is to complete the design of the project in 2021, we will then bid the project in December 2021 and start construction in spring of 2022. 

    We actually tried to think of every question anyone could have about the facility and are posting those with their answers on this project page now. Take a look in a day or so, and please let me know if you have any other questions.

  • You responded to my question but I am not sure it answers my question. I am looking at the picture of the site on this web page. You responded “ The project area on the map is defined by a black dashed line on the outside perimeter of the project site.” But I don’t see a dotted line. Am I looking at the wrong thing?

    Optimistic neighbor asked about 4 years ago

    New Shops Facility.pdf

    Update: please bear with us as we're having some technical issues with this software. We've been trying to upload a better image to appear below for about two days now, and each time we try, it doesn't appear. We'll keep trying....

    The area of the new Shops Facility is Parcel #'s 0420124008, 0420124013, 04201240 and 0420124002


  • I have a three prong question. 1. For those of us at the end of the neighborhood, we already have the drainage ponds behind us. The water is very still and breeds mosquitos like crazy. What is planned for drainage? 2. You mentioned a sound barrier in a response to another question. Do you have any specifics yet? 3. could the city find a better nickname? This development is Larsen’s Acres and, as a resident, having ny neighborhood referred to as a donut hole feels derogatory. IMO, Having maintenance there beats having another warehouse.

    Optimistic neighbor asked over 4 years ago
    1. The city will pass along your concern about the drainage ponds to our Storm Water Section to review the existing pond. 
    2. We do not have any specifications on the sound barrier wall at this time we are still in preliminary engineering.  Stay tuned!
    3. Back when the City worked with your neighbors a few years ago around their sound concerns with an existing nearby business, it was the residents commenting at Council who described themselves as the “donut hole.” We joined in as at that time, it helped lighten the mood and build a bridge of understanding between the City and residents. I think we even brought donut holes to one of the public meetings as food always helps. As with any nickname, I’m not sure how successful the City can be at changing it once it sticks—people still insist on calling it the Stuck River (ironically) when we lost that name to the White River nearly 100 years ago--but it’s good to know how you feel. We’ll see what we can do, and in the meantime, maybe it helps a bit to know it came from a good place originally.

  • Hi, we have lived on the corner of 29th st and 146th Ave E for almost 30 years. Wow has it changed from a gravel road surrounded by rhubarb farms and a single lane road on 142nd! We have a few concerns and wanted to share them with you. Currently the only way out of our neighborhood is to go out onto 142nd Ave. Since things have changed drastically over the years it is now sometimes hard to safely get out onto 142nd especially when turning left , I usually wait quite a while due to all the truck traffic. Is the plan to have all the city vehicles also go out that way? What are the plans for ingress and egress. We would need a traffic light. To me it seems it would be great if the vehicles could exit out towards 32nd street where the wherehouses are. My other big concern if for the safety of all the neighbor children. All the kids ride their bikes and walk around the neighborhood. It normally has had little traffic and all the neighbors watch out for the children. We are foster parents and have children at times with some disabilities. We would like the city to consider the safety regarding increased traffic and trucks around the children. Are the vehicles going to come all the way down into the neighborhood? Maybe speed bumps would help. Feel free to give me a call 253 863 1791 All the families in this neighborhood have a close bond ,it has been a great place for our children- we are hoping as you make plans you consider this so we can all keep this a great place. Please let us know about the plans, feel free to call us 253 863-1791 Sincerely, The Thomas family

    Thomas family asked over 4 years ago

    As part of the facility project the City will be conducting a traffic light analysis at that intersection of 142nd and 39th St. to verify that a signal is warranted. Once the City has reviewed the report we will inform you via this Sumner Connects page of the analysis.  City vehicles will not be going into the neighborhood any more that they are now for routine maintenance and emergencies.  Safety is also a high priority for the City in regards to vehicle and pedestrian movement, we hope that all bicycle riders and pedestrians also follow safety protocols in all circumstances as well.   

  • Hi Doug, I purchased a house a few months ago that is going to be neighboring to the new Maintenance Facility built by City of Sumner. I purchased this house with no knowledge of plans surround new construction right in the backyard. I was talking to the neighbor this week and he mentioned the city’s purchase. It caught me off guard and I started researching. I found documents online from the City Council June Meeting outlining more details around the project plans. I’m open to city’s plans however, having 3 small children and seeing how many kids are in this neighborhood, I do have a few concerns: 1) safety - this is a child-friendly neighborhood where they ride bikes down the street and play outside. What will the city do to ensure this neighborhood continues being safe and family-friendly? 2) noise levels - we purchased this property with expectation that it is secluded, safe, and quiet. What are the noise level expectations during construction and operation once completed? Being that this will be in my yard, am I going to be woken up constantly with noise coming from my backyard? 3) property value - what impact will a maintenance shop right in my backyard do to property value and have there been discussions around homeowner implications? I would like to know if there will be more information available for the design and whether I can share input and feedback? I have done construction with my father growing up and now lead an large operations department for a kidney dialysis company so I know the challenges to meet all demands from an architecture, engineering, and project perspective. I just want to make sure my family’s wellbeing and home investment is protected. Thanks

    FutureMaintenanceFacilityNeighbor asked over 4 years ago

    Welcome to Sumner and welcome to the neighborhood! I understand your concerns and think we can continue to work through questions to put your mind at rest about your family’s well being and your investment in Sumner. To directly answer your concerns:


    1. Safety is also a high priority for the City in regards to vehicle and pedestrian movement. Our staff follow rigid safety protocol the moment they begin their day at the facility.  Keep in mind, these are the same crews who do traffic safety for high traffic areas such as parades, festivals, etc., so they’re even more aware than most about pedestrians versus vehicles, especially our vehicles. Of course, as always, we hope that all bicycle riders and pedestrians also follow safety protocol in all circumstances as well.  You’ll be happy to know that the city facility project will connect the sidewalk that was completed with the development of your neighborhood. This will run along the entire frontage of the facility project providing a safe pedestrian and biking experience.  
    2. Regarding noise, we have had a history of mitigating noise between the development that you live in and the existing adjacent commercial development. The City has made the existing businesses provide noise studies and noise treatments to reduce noises coming from their business. We will also provide a noise study during our design process and will be installing noise treatments along the west edge of your development to reduce noises coming from the new facility. Aside from the occasional special event or call-out for an emergency, most activity will be during the work day. I can tell you that in comparison, the Police staff their station in City Hall on Maple Street 24/7 and respond to calls all the time, and we’ve never had a noise complaint from the houses just feet away from our existing City Hall/Police Station which sees higher evening activity than this facility will. All that said, we are still in the information gathering mode and will be starting our design in September. There will be an opportunity for you to provide further input/ask more questions as we continue to work with your neighborhood and the entire city on outreach and design through an upcoming open house this fall (either in person or virtually) as well as the continuing ability to provide comments and ask questions via email or mail.
    3. Regarding property value, keep in mind that I’m not a real estate expert, but here’s my personal opinion. At any time, any neighbor can make choices that affect your property. We have a code compliance officer because we deal with these kinds of issues throughout the city between neighboring properties all the time. We hold ourselves and are held to a higher standard than private property, which means that I think having us as a long-term neighbor which will protect your property value. Plus, this is the facility from which we respond to broken water mains, sewer back-ups, etc. Our staff work as fast as they can to get the equipment and dispatch throughout the city, but it means your property is going to get the best response times ever. Keep in mind, I may be a bit biased in my opinions here, but if it were my own home, I’d be happy to see this coming next door. 


  • How is this a benefit to the residents in the donut hole neighborhood? Its not. Its the City way of forcing the residents out but lowering property values and raising noise levels. The City promised in a legal ruling years ago to keep it residential. So much for keeping their word. The last thing I want in my back yard is the sound of utility vehicles coming and going at all hours of the day and night during a weather event. This neighborhood is small but has a lot of kids that ride their bikes up and down 142. I certainly don't want them out there with large trucks. Did any one even ask what the residents want? Nope. Just lots of white washing about how good neighbors you going to be. Sorry I don't buy it and yes there are other large parcel of land. Across from the Shell station for one. Or the Westside of hwy 167 by the overpass. But no let's put it right by the only residential neighborhood in the north end. Just down the street from where we already are.

    ShaftedSumnerresident asked over 4 years ago

    Thank you for your input, there will be opportunities in the future for input for design to specifically buffer the neighborhood. Once we have a consultant hired in June of 2020 further outreach will be coming. 

Page last updated: 14 Oct 2024, 12:02 PM