The Benton County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing later this month to reconsider its approval of an application to expand the Coffin Butte Landfill.
The hearing on reconsideration is scheduled for 11 a.m. Jan. 20 at the county’s Kalapuya Building (4500 SW Research Way, Corvallis).
During Tuesday’s county commissioners meeting, the purpose of the upcoming hearing was discussed. According to the county, its planning official will present new evidence that became available after the board approved the expansion application on Nov. 4.
At the Jan. 20 hearing, the board will determine the manner and timeframe for public testimony responding to the new evidence. Under Oregon statute, the applicant, Republic Services, will then have an opportunity to rebut new testimony and evidence.
The board will consider recommendations from outside counsel regarding a timeline for the open record period and rebuttal that aligns with state law while conducting the reconsideration within the 90 days allowed by the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals.
Those recommendations will be available to the public on Jan. 14 as part of the agenda and packet published to the Board of Commissioners meeting portal.
No public testimony will be accepted at the Jan. 20 hearing.
Once a timeline is determined for public testimony and rebuttal, the board can continue the public hearing to a date for deliberations and a decision. No vote will be held until that date, officials said.
The reconsideration process began at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Dec. 16 when Commissioner Nancy Wyse moved to withdraw the board’s decision to approve the proposed expansion of the Coffin Butte Landfill. Commissioner Pat Malone seconded the motion, which passed 3-0.
The county filed the notice of withdrawal with LUBA that afternoon, returning jurisdiction of the land use case to the Board of Commissioners for 90 days.
For more information about the hearing on reconsideration, visit the county’s Coffin Butte Landfill webpage.