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Tag: LU-24-027

Board of Commissioners meeting

January 20, 2026 in News

Board reopens public record for new evidence and testimony about proposed landfill expansion

The Benton County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to reopen the record for LU-24-027 to accept new evidence related to the proposed expansion of the Coffin Butte Landfill. Written comment and testimony directed to a November 6 letter from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, as it relates to the applicable criteria in the Benton County Code, can be submitted by the public until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

In a Jan. 20 public hearing to reconsider their decision on the land use case, the Board considered a recommendation from Planning Division staff to open the record to receive a DEQ letter issued after the Board voted in Nov. 2025 to approve the landfill expansion application.

Planning staff recommended a schedule for written public testimony, applicant final argument and a continuation of the hearing to March 3 for deliberations and decision. The Board approved the following timeline:

Tuesday, Jan. 20

LU-24-027 Public Record reopened to accept the Nov. 6 DEQ letter. It will remain open for 7 days to accept written evidence, argument and testimony related to the DEQ letter as it relates to applicable criteria in the Benton County Code.  

Tuesday, Jan. 27, 4 p.m.

Deadline for the County to receive written evidence, argument and testimony relating to the DEQ letter.

Beginning of new, 7-day period limited only to responses to written evidence, argument and testimony submitted during the Jan. 20-27 submission period.

Tuesday, Feb. 3, 4 p.m.

Receipt deadline for 7-day responsive open record period.

Tuesday, Feb. 10, 4 p.m.

Deadline for the County to receive the applicant’s final argument, with no new evidence.

Tuesday, Feb. 24

TENTATIVE — Staff report (if any) on new evidence published.

Tuesday, March 3, 11 a.m.

Continued reconsideration hearing and Board deliberations in the Holmes & Shipley meeting room at 4500 SW Research Way in Corvallis.

Tuesday, March 17, 9 a.m.

TENTATIVE — Adoption of findings in regular Board of Commissioners meeting and transmittal of decision on reconsideration to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals. If adoption is scheduled for an earlier date, it will be announced on March 3.

Submitting written testimony

On Tuesday, Jan. 20, the Board of Commissioners reopened the public record for seven (7) days to collect written evidence and testimony from all parties, including the public, directed to the November 6 DEQ letter. Submissions must be received by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27.  

Following the 7-day open record period, the record will remain open for a 7-day responsive comment period limited to written submissions from all parties addressing only new issues raised during the Jan. 20-27 submission period. Submissions must be received by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3.  

There are four ways to submit written testimony:  

  • Hand delivered to Board of Commissioners Office (suite 100) in the Kalapuya Building at 4500 SW Research Way in Corvallis.
  • By email to landfillappeals@bentoncountyor.gov. To submit an attachment that is too large to send through email, contact pioinfo@bentoncountyor.gov to request an SFTP upload link.
  • Through the testimony submission form on the County’s website. Please note that the form does not allow for attachments. To submit testimony with an attachment, use the email address above. 
  • Mailed to Board of Commissioners Office, P.O. Box 3020, Corvallis, OR 97339. Mailed submissions must be received by 4 p.m. on Jan. 27 — the postmark will not be taken into consideration. 

More information is available at bentoncountyor.gov/coffin-butte-landfill.

Board of Commissioners meeting

January 14, 2026 in News

Board of Commissioners meeting packet published for Jan. 20; meeting to start at 10 a.m.

The Benton County Board of Commissioners Office has published the agenda and meeting packet for the Jan. 20 meeting. The meeting will include two short public hearings and will begin at 10 a.m. in the Holmes & Shipley meeting room at 4500 SW Research Way in Corvallis.

The Jan. 20 Board of Commissioners meeting will begin an hour later than the standard 9 a.m. start time because of a smaller than usual amount of regular business on the agenda.

Public comment will be heard at the beginning of the meeting, but comment related to either of the scheduled public hearings will not be allowed.  

The first of two public hearings will begin at 11 a.m. It will address a development code text amendment related to mobile food carts. At this time, public comment about the text amendment only will be heard.

The second hearing will be a public hearing for reconsideration of the Board’s decision on LU-24-027, a Conditional Use Permit application to expand Coffin Butte Landfill. The Board will consider a recommended timeline for accepting written public testimony, included in the agenda packet published on Wednesday, Jan. 14.

The Board is considering a recommendation from Planning Division staff to open the record to receive a DEQ letter issued after the Board voted to approve the landfill expansion application in November 2025. The recommendation includes a timeline for the public to submit written evidence or argument regarding the new evidence presented at the Jan. 20 hearing. Planning staff is recommending the Board continue the hearing to a later date for deliberations and decision.

Ex parte rules continue to apply to the Commissioners’ consideration of the application. They prevent the Commissioners from hearing verbal or written comment outside of the public process for accepting evidence and testimony about the Coffin Butte Landfill.

No vote will be taken on Jan. 20 and no decision on the land use application will be made.

Following the public hearing on Jan. 20, the County will distribute a press release to share the Board’s decisions regarding continued hearing date and the timeline and guidelines for any open record period set during the hearing.

More information is available at bentoncountyor.gov/coffin-butte-landfill.

January 6, 2026 in News

Benton County announces public hearing for reconsideration of landfill decision

The Benton County Board of Commissioners has announced a public hearing to reconsider its decision approving an application to expand the Coffin Butte Landfill. The Hearing on Reconsideration will be held Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 11:00 a.m. in the Holmes & Shipley meeting room, 4500 SW Research Way in Corvallis.

In the Board of Commissioners meeting on Jan. 6, the Board discussed the purpose of the Jan. 20 hearing. The County’s planning official will present new evidence that became available after the Board of Commissioners reached its decision on Nov. 4, 2025.

On Jan. 20, the Board will determine the manner and timeframe in which the public can submit testimony responding to the new evidence. According to 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 (LUBA).

Those recommendations will be available to the public as part of the agenda and meeting packet published to the Board of Commissioners Meeting Portal on Wednesday, Jan. 14.

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 intended for deliberations and decision. No vote will be held until that date.

Reconsideration of the land use decision was set in motion at the Board of Commissioners meeting on Dec. 16. Commissioner Wyse moved to withdraw for reconsideration the Board’s decision to approve LU-24-027, the proposed expansion of the Coffin Butte Landfill. Commissioner Malone seconded the motion, which carried 3-0.

The County filed the notice of withdrawal with LUBA that afternoon. This action returned jurisdiction of the land use case to the Board of Commissioners for 90 days.

For more information about the Hearing on Reconsideration visit https://www.bentoncountyor.gov/coffin-butte-landfill.

Board of Commissioners gavel and dais

November 5, 2025 in News

Board of Commissioners to adopt landfill expansion decision on Nov. 17

The Benton County Board of Commissioners will finalize their decision and adopt findings to approve the proposed expansion of the Coffin Butte Landfill on Monday, Nov. 17 at 9 a.m. Community members can attend the meeting in the Holmes & Shipley meeting room of the Kalapuya Building at 4500 SW Research Way in Corvallis.

Because the record of the hearing is closed, no public testimony will be taken.

The application for the proposed expansion came before the Board of Commissioners after Republic Services appealed the County Planning Commission’s decision to deny the application. In a public hearing held October 22-23, the Board considered evidence from the Planning Commission hearing and new evidence submitted since the appeal was filed on Aug. 12.

The Board met on Nov. 4 for deliberations. In a meeting lasting just over an hour, they voted two to one to approve the application with some modifications to the conditions of approval outlined in the staff report published Oct. 15.

County staff are creating a final written decision document which will include findings and justification for the decision. The decision will be final once the decision document is adopted on Nov. 17.

Adoption of the decision will take place in a regular Board of Commissioners meeting. It will be one item on a full agenda of Board business. The meeting is being held on a Monday rather than the usual Tuesday to accommodate the schedule of the annual Oregon Association of Counties conference.

See the Board of Commissioners Meeting Portal for the meeting agenda (to be published by close of business on Thursday, Nov. 13) and a link for remote viewing.

For more information about the land use decision process and the application for landfill expansion, visit bentoncountyor.gov/coffin-butte-landfill/.

Benton County Board of Commissioners gavel and meeting room

October 24, 2025 in News

Board of Commissioners leaves record open for responses to evidence presented in landfill appeal hearing

The Benton County Board of Commissioners has finished hearing testimony on the appeal of the Planning Commission decision to deny expansion of the Coffin Butte Landfill.

At the end of the second night of hearings on Oct. 23, 2025, pursuant to ORS 197.797(4)(b) the Board left the written record open until Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 4 p.m. for the limited purpose of responding to documents and evidence submitted during the two nights of hearings before the Board.

Responses to documents and evidence submitted during the two nights of hearings must be submitted in hard copy (physical copy) and received by the Board of Commissioners in the Kalapuya Building at 4500 SW Research Way, Suite 100, Corvallis, OR 97333. Office hours are Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Electronic submissions will not be accepted. Any submissions received after Oct. 29, 2025, at 4 p.m. will not be part of the record.

Next steps

Wednesday, Oct. 29, 4 p.m.
Deadline to submit written testimony responding to documents and evidence presented during the two nights of hearings before the Board of Commissioners

Tuesday, Nov. 4, 1 p.m.
Deliberations and decision by Board of Commissioners
Location: Kalapuya Building, 4500 SW Research Way, Corvallis
Zoom registration

Monday, Nov. 17, 9 a.m.
Board of Commissioners adopts final written decision
Location: Kalapuya Building, 4500 SW Research Way, Corvallis
Visit the Board of Commissioners Meeting Portal to access a live stream of the meeting.

Public record

The LU-24-027 Public Record is available on the County’s website.

Recordings of the two nights of hearings before the Board of Commissioners can be viewed on the County’s YouTube channel.

  • The Oct. 22 recording includes a presentation of the Planning Division Staff Report, a presentation by the applicant, verbal testimony by proponents of the expansion, testimony by government representatives and the beginning of testimony by opponents of the expansion.
  • The Oct. 23 recording includes the bulk of the testimony by opponents of the expansion. The meeting wrapped up with questions from the Commissioners to be addressed in the applicant’s written rebuttal.

For more information about the appeal hearing visit bentoncountyor.gov/coffin-butte-landfill.

October 15, 2025 in News

Benton County releases staff report for appeal hearing on proposed landfill expansion

The Benton County Planning Division has released a staff report and attachments for the appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision to deny LU-24-027, Republic Services’ Conditional Use Permit application for the proposed expansion of the Coffin Butte landfill. 

The report includes the Planning Division’s recommendation to the Board of Commissioners for considering the application at a public hearing scheduled to begin on Wednesday, Oct. 22. New exhibits submitted by the applicant and written public testimony received from Aug. 12 through close of business on Oct. 7 are considered in the report.  

The report has been added to the LU-24-027 Public Record that is available on the County’s website.  

Public hearing schedule 

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 5:30 – 10 p.m. 
First day of public hearing: presentations by the County and the applicant followed by the start of verbal public testimony 
Location: Benton County Fairgrounds Auditorium, 110 SW 53rd St, Corvallis 
Zoom registration 

Thursday, Oct. 23, 5:30 – 10 p.m. 
Second day of public hearing: verbal public testimony concludes; applicant rebuttal; deadline to submit written testimony 
Location: Benton County Fairgrounds Auditorium, 110 SW 53rd St, Corvallis 
Zoom registration 

Tuesday, Nov. 4, 1 p.m. 
Deliberations and decision by Board of Commissioners 
Location: Kalapuya Building, 4500 SW Research Way, Corvallis 

Monday, Nov. 17, 9 a.m. 
Board of Commissioners adopts final written decision 
Location: Kalapuya Building, 4500 SW Research Way, Corvallis 

Submitting verbal and written testimony 

Members of the public are invited to submit written comment. Visit the Submit Written Testimony webpage for submission instructions and deadlines.  

The public can also sign up to share verbal testimony at the hearing by completing the online registration form. In-person registration will be open from 4:30-5:30 p.m. on October 22 at the hearing venue. 

To learn more about the decision process, visit bentoncountyor.gov/coffin-butte-landfill. 

Benton County Board of Commissioners gavel

September 16, 2025 in News

Benton County announces dates for public hearing on appeal of landfill decision

Benton County has scheduled a public hearing before the Board of Commissioners for the appeal of the decision to deny expansion of the Coffin Butte Landfill. The hearing will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 22 with a planned continuance on Thursday, Oct. 23, from 5:30-10 p.m. at the Benton County Fairgrounds Auditorium, 110 SW 53rd Street in Corvallis. 

The County’s Planning Commission denied Republic Services’ application to expand the landfill in a decision adopted on July 29. The applicant filed an appeal of that decision on Aug. 12. Appeals of Planning Commission decisions are heard by the Board of Commissioners.  

The hearing will include presentations by the County’s Planning Division and the applicant, followed by verbal public testimony and a final rebuttal by the applicant.   

The full schedule is expected to be as follows. These dates are subject to change with notice. Check the County’s website for the latest schedule.  

Wednesday, Oct. 15 
Expected date for County to publish a staff report considering evidence submitted by the applicant and public since the start of the appeal 

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 5:30 – 10 p.m. 
First day of public hearing: presentations by the County and the applicant followed by the start of verbal public testimony  
Location: Benton County Fairgrounds Auditorium, 110 SW 53rd Street, Corvallis 

Thursday, Oct. 23, 5:30 – 10 p.m. 
Second day of public hearing: verbal public testimony concludes; applicant rebuttal; deadline to submit written testimony 
Location: Benton County Fairgrounds Auditorium, 110 SW 53rd Street, Corvallis 

Tuesday, Nov. 4, 1 p.m. 
Deliberations and decision by Board of Commissioners 
Location: Kalapuya Building, 4500 SW Research Way, Corvallis 

Monday, Nov. 17, 9 a.m. 
Board of Commissioners adopts final written decision  
Location: Kalapuya Building, 4500 SW Research Way, Corvallis 

Virtual participation in all meetings will be available through an online meeting platform. Links to register for and view meetings will be available soon.  

Verbal testimony 

Anyone can sign up to give two minutes of verbal testimony on new evidence regardless of their participation in the earlier Planning Commission hearing. The time has been set at two minutes per person because of the condensed timeline of the hearing and the large number of interested parties who wish to be heard. 

Registration for verbal testimony will open at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 15. Instructions and a link to a sign-up form will be distributed and posted to the County website closer to that date.   

Written testimony 

Written evidence and testimony are already being accepted and will be collected until the hearing record is closed by the chair of the Board of Commissioners, which will not be before the hearing ends on Oct. 23.  

There are four ways to submit written testimony:  

  • Through the testimony submission form on the County’s website. Please note that the form does not allow for attachments. To submit testimony with an attachment, use the email address above. 
  • Mailed to Board of Commissioners Office, P.O. Box 3020, Corvallis, OR 97339. Mailed submissions must be received by 5 p.m. on the day the record closes — the postmark will not be taken into consideration. 
  • Hand delivered to Board of Commissioners Office (suite 100) in the Kalapuya Building at 4500 SW Research Way in Corvallis 

Written testimony can also be submitted in person at the hearing. A testimony table will be set up at the hearing location, opening one hour before the hearing and closing at the end of the session. 

Public record 

In preparation for the hearing to begin on Oct. 22, the Board of Commissioners is reviewing all documents in the public record of the Planning Commission hearing. Minutes and recordings from the hearing, along with all submitted materials, are part of that record.  

The LU-24-027 Public Record is now available on the County’s website. It replaces the record maintained on the MuniDocs platform during the Planning Commission hearing. All documents from MuniDocs are included, with these improvements: 

  • Many duplicate documents have been removed. 
  • Individuals who made multiple submissions on the same date will see a combined document for that date.
  • Attachments to emailed submissions are included within each document, rather than linked out.
  • All documents are keyword searchable. 
  • Documents can be indexed by search engines. 

The public record also includes new evidence submitted for the Board of Commissioners hearing. Applicant submissions and written public testimony are found below the Planning Commission record under the heading “Board of Commissioners de novo Record.” New submissions are uploaded to the record every Wednesday and Friday.  

For more information about the appeal hearing and instructions for giving written or verbal testimony, visit bentoncountyor.gov/coffin-butte-landfill. 

August 13, 2025 in News

Republic Services files appeal of Planning Commission decision to deny expansion of Coffin Butte Landfill

The Benton County Planning Division has received an appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision to deny LU-24-027, the application to expand the Coffin Butte Landfill. The applicant, Republic Services, filed the appeal with the County on Tuesday, August 12.

The Planning Commission adopted the decision on Tuesday, July 29, opening a 14-day window in which any party could file an appeal to be heard before the Benton County Board of Commissioners.

Along with the appeal, the applicant requested a 60-day extension of the process, which was granted by the County. This gives all parties more time to fully consider evidence both before and after the public hearing. Prior to the extension, September 27 was the deadline to complete the quasi-judicial land use application process. The new deadline is November 26.

A public hearing before the Board of Commissioners will be scheduled for late October and announced as soon as date, time and location are finalized.

Virtual participation in the meetings will be provided through Zoom. Once hearing dates are set, those interested can visit the County website to register for Zoom meetings.

Ex parte communication rules regarding direct communication with the Benton County Commissioners remain in effect. As such, written testimony should be submitted to landfillappeals@bentoncountyor.gov or via the three other identified avenues on our website.

For more forthcoming information about the appeal hearing and instructions for giving written or verbal testimony, visit bentoncountyor.gov/coffin-butte-landfill or sign up as an interested party on our website.

July 31, 2025 in News

Planning Commission adopts decision to deny landfill expansion application

The Benton County Planning Commission met on July 29 to adopt their findings of fact and conclusions of law, finalizing their decision to deny LU-24-027 — Republic Services’ application to expand the Coffin Butte Landfill. After about an hour of discussion on the document, the members of the Planning Commission voted unanimously to adopt the final written decision.

The Planning Commission had already met on July 22 to deliberate and come to a decision following more than 20 hours of presentations and verbal testimony by Benton County Planning Division staff, consultants, the applicant and community members in a series of in-person meetings that began on April 29. The July 22 meeting lasted nearly four hours.

The Planning Commission also received and reviewed thousands of pages of application materials, reports, exhibits and written public testimony and evidence.

Following the close of deliberations on July 22, the County created a final written document containing findings of fact and conclusions of law.

Before adopting the document on July 29, Planning Commission members discussed and voted on corrections. According to the quasi-judicial land use application process, only minor changes like corrections could be made without reopening deliberations. A motion to reopen deliberations, which would have extended the process, was made but not seconded, so deliberations remained closed during the meeting.

All parties have 14 days from the date of final decision (July 29) to file an appeal. The appeal deadline is 5 p.m. (close of business) on Tuesday, August 12. An appellant is charged the full cost to the County of the appeal, starting with a $5,000 deposit due when the appeal is filed. Appeals are heard by the Benton County Board of Commissioners.  

Learn more

July 25, 2025 in News

Planning Commission to meet virtually on July 29

The Benton County Planning Commission will meet virtually on July 29 at 6 p.m. to adopt the decision and findings on LU-24-027, Republic Services’ application to expand the Coffin Butte Landfill. Community members can view the meeting through Zoom. Those who wish to watch the virtual proceedings in a County location can go to the Kalapuya Building at 4500 SW Research Way in Corvallis.

The Planning Commission met July 22 for deliberations. Following nearly four hours of opening statements and discussion, the seven participating Commission members voted unanimously to deny the application.

The County is creating a final written decision document including findings and justification for the decision. The Planning Commission will reconvene on July 29 at 6 p.m. in a Zoom meeting room to adopt the written decision and findings, making the decision final.

The public hearing on LU-24-027 began on April 29. In total, the Planning Commission heard more than 20 hours of presentations and verbal testimony by Benton County Planning Division staff, consultants, the applicant and community members. The Commission also received and reviewed thousands of pages of application materials, reports, exhibits and written public testimony and evidence.

The Planning Commission opted for a virtual meeting on July 29 to make the best use of commissioner time and County resources. With just one item of business on the agenda, the meeting is expected to be short. The Commission also met virtually on June 17, in a meeting that lasted about five minutes, to continue the public hearing to a later date (July 8). All other meetings related to LU-24-027 were held in person in the Kalapuya Building.

Once the decision on the application is final (expected July 29), all parties have 14 days to file an appeal, setting the appeal deadline at 5 p.m. (close of business) on Tuesday, August 12. An appellant is charged the full cost to the County of the appeal, starting with a $5,000 deposit due when the appeal is filed. Appeals are heard by the Benton County Board of Commissioners.  

Learn more

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