Welcome to the City of Puyallup’s online engagement site for the Knutson Farms Environmental Impact Statement project. The City is leading the development of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed warehousing development on the approximate 162-acre Knutson Farm property located within unincorporated Pierce County. The EIS is an objective analysis of the likely environmental impacts of the proposal and measures to mitigate harmful impacts. We are committed to listening to our stakeholders and working with you to gather input to help inform the EIS. We’re glad you’re part of the conversation! Click here to sign up for email updates.

Project updates

Updated January 2021

The EIS scoping comment period is now closed! Thank you to those of you who shared your input. Your comments were used to help identify possible areas of impact and to determine the extent of the EIS analysis.

The City of Puyallup has released the EIS scoping report comment summary related to the Knutson Farms EIS project and all comments received during the scoping comment period are now available.

Knutson Farms EIS Scoping Report 01/19/21

Appendix A – Knutson Farms Scoping Comments Received

Public comments most frequently received were related to the following topics:

• Traffic impacts
• Air quality
• Development impacts on plants, animals and critical biological resources
• The use of land for warehouses and loss of agricultural land

The project is now entering the second phase, which will involve field work, impacts analysis and report writing over the next several months. Later this year, likely in Fall 2021, in the Draft EIS report will be available for your review and comment. This will be the next opportunity to provide formal input.

Description of proposal

The proposed development includes construction of a Level 8 Warehousing, Distribution and Freight Movement facility of up to 2.6 million square feet of building area. The project would include construction of seven warehouse buildings. Site work activities would include grading, paving parking and truck maneuvering areas, landscaping, water and sanitary sewer extensions, building a storm water facility, franchise utility improvements and roadway improvements.

Proposed Knutson Farms Industrial Warehouse site plan (2016)

SEPA checklist (2016)

To learn more and access publicly available materials, visit Pierce County PALS Online and search permit ID numbers 792206 and 792210.

Where is the project located?

The Knutson Farms site is 162-acres. The site falls outside of Puyallup’s city limits but is within its Urban Growth Area (UGA.)

The State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) is a state law that requires agencies to evaluate the likely environmental consequences of proposed development actions. SEPA provides direction for the environmental review process, including preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) for certain projects.

The City of Puyallup, as lead agency, acknowledges that there is public interest and concern about the environmental impacts of implementing the proposed development plan (Proposed Action). Based on the level of concern and the potential for impacts that may occur with the implementation of the Proposed Action, the City has determined that a SEPA EIS will be prepared to study impacts regardless of whether such impacts may be significant.

Determination of Significance (second notice, 2020)

Appendix A – Knutson Farms Scoping Comments Received

Knutson Farms EIS Scoping Report 01/19/21

Knutson EIS Scoping Presentation

EIS scoping comment period: November 17 – December 17, 2020

Draft EIS comment period: Anticipated for Fall 2021 – sign up to receive a notification when the comment period opens