Quarry Gets Final Approval

— A quarry east of Springdale received final approval Thursday for its large-scale development, months after the business’ owners settled a dispute with neighbors over an operational expansion.

The Washington County Planning Commission approved the plans and work done by Northwest Arkansas Quarries on North Parsons Road since October.

Part of that work included complying with conditions set by the county before the final large-scale development would be approved.

The quarry’s owner, after a handshake deal with neighbors last year, agreed to plant trees along raised barriers of land to block the view of the quarry and filter dust clouds from the business.

Other conditions included a new dust abatement plan to keep dust from county roads.

“They have finished all their conditions for approval, with the exception of part of their planting,” said Juliet Richey, county planning coordinator.

The quarry has planted holly and pine trees. It was waiting on cedar trees to be delivered, Richey said.

In 2003, the county approved a 120-acre operation before rural areas had zoning regulations.

Since, rock extraction grew by 13 acres and the company stockpiled rock in about 111 acres outside of the original 120 acres approved for land use.

That expansion hadn’t been approved by the county.

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