Sumner, Environmental Groups Prepare for Orton Junction Appeal Hearing

Despite rumors of a settlement, the appeal process for the Orton Junction project is underway and the hearing is set for next Tuesday, May 1 in Sumner.

“No, we absolutely did not settle with Investco,” said Tim Trohimovich, director of planning and law for Futurewise.

Futurewise and Friends of Pierce County are leading the development appeal; Sumner, Investco and Forterra (formally Cascade Land Conservancy, the organization that helped build the ), will defend their project. of the project last month after an agreement with Sumner for more sewer capacity.

The Growth Management Hearing Board (GMHB) will hear oral arguments from lawyers for all of the represented parties. The hearing is an opportunity to highlight the key arguments on both sides and answer questions from the GMHB board.

There will not be an opportunity for public comment.

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We’ve attached the agenda to this article, so you can learn more about the day’s schedule. The hearing begins at 10 a.m. in Sumner Municipal Court and is scheduled to wrap at 12:30 p.m.

State law requires the GMHB to make a decision within 180 days of the hearing, which is July 9. Patch will bring you more from Tuesday’s meeting next week.

Check out our Orton Junction topics page to learn more about the project and read all of our coverage of the issue.