Residents tell council Cumberland aggregate mine threatens traffic, wells and quiet recreation

Multiple residents used the council’s public-comment period on July 13 to press officials about a proposed Cumberland aggregate mine and asphalt plant and to ask the city to support conservation of nearby Lizard Mountain acreage.

Julius Stevens, who lives in unincorporated King County near Enumclaw, told the council the project could remove gravel for an estimated 25 to 35 years and would operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He said the project’s traffic impacts could be significant for Enumclaw and the surrounding region and warned of effects on roads, the police and fire departments. He told the council the proposal includes high daily water demand “in the range of 175,000 to 250,000 gallons a day,” and urged officials to review the King County project materials and submit comments; he said King County’s public-comment window runs through Aug. 7.

Linda Stevens urged preservation of roughly 990 acres north of Cumberland including the Lizard Mountain area, describing long-standing recreational uses (hiking, biking, horseback riding) and concerns that a major development could harm local wells and public access. She said she had been told that county and state agencies might be interested in conserving the ground.

Both speakers asked the council to consider the regional environmental and public-safety implications and to coordinate with King County as the county’s review proceeds. Council did not take a formal vote or adopt a position on the project during the meeting; residents were encouraged to leave materials with the city clerk and to file comments with King County before the stated deadline.

The residents’ remarks referenced King County permit materials and a previous community engagement in 2024; council members did not debate or vote on any land-use action at the July 13 meeting.