Residents urge protection of Lizard Mountain and raise traffic, water and noise fears over proposed Cumberland mine and a converted Moose Lodge venue

Multiple residents spoke during public comment at the July 13 Eden Plus City Council meeting to raise environmental, traffic and neighborhood quality concerns about proposals affecting the Cumberland area.

Julius Stevens, who said he lives in unincorporated King County outside Enumclaw, described the King County proposal for the Cumberland Aggregate Mine and asphalt plant as a long‑term operation: “they're looking at 25 to 35 years of removing gravel from the area,” he said, and warned of traffic impacts if “approximately 298 to 668 heavy trucks per day” would use local roads. Stevens also cited water‑use estimates of “175,000 to 250,000 gallons a day” for the operation and urged the council to review project materials and encourage residents to file comments with King County (the comment period referenced in the meeting runs through Aug. 7).

Linda Stevens asked the council to pursue conservation of about 990 acres north of Cumberland, describing local recreation access at Lizard Mountain and the White River and telling council members the land offers accessible terrain for older residents and a riverside corridor that community members value; she said county or state entities had indicated potential interest in preservation.

A commenter identified in the proceedings as Malinaro warned against converting the former Moose Lodge into a nightclub or event center with a liquor license in a residential area, citing past disturbances tied to a similar venue and recommending council staff review the municipal noise‑control code (“go into your municipal code under noise control, chapter 8,” he said).

Councilors did not take formal action on these public comments during the meeting. Council members were informed of the King County public‑comment deadline and were told copies of county materials were left with the city clerk for review.