BENTONVILLE — Benton County planners on Wednesday approved a request for a one-year extension for a quarry operation near Centerton but not without reservations about changes to the area since the project was first approved.
The Planning Board held a public hearing for a fourth extension on a permit issued to the Rogers Group for the Centerton Quarry, which would give the business another year to begin operating. The county first approved plans at 15271 Burgin Valley Road, just west of Centerton, in 2006. Permits may be extended if work isn't begun on a project and two-year extensions were granted in 2007, 2009 and 2011.
At A Glance
Tract Splits
Benton County’s Planning Board heard updates on a pair of tract split handled administratively by the planning staff. The staff approved a split for 22440 Floyd Moore Road in Gentry and another at 9924 S. Pleasant Valley Road in Gentry.
Source: Staff Report
Dale Fitzsimmons, of 243 Stein St. in Centerton, asked the board to consider how the area has changed in recent years. He pointed to Centerton's population growth and commercial traffic, as well as the recently approved high school.
"Things have changed since the board approved this," Fitzsimmons said. He characterized dump trucks that will be pulling out onto Arkansas 102 from the quarry site as "intimidating and dangerous."
"You're going to have school buses going up and down there with dump trucks. This is not going to enhance the living quality for anyone there," Fitzsimmons said.
The board discussed how to respond to changes in an area for a project approved but never began.
"What do we do in a situation where we've approved something years ago?" said Ken Knight, board member. "Northwest Arkansas has grown. This area has grown immensely."
After some discussion, the board agreed the company could begin doing minimal work on the site now and keep its current approval valid. The board approved the extension unanimously, but amended the stipulations for the extension to require the company to obtain approval of all of cities and water authorities with water lines crossing the property before blasting.
The board asked county staff for updated information on stipulations in the initial permit, including the status of needed permits, details of improvement to Bethlehem Road and its intersection with Arkansas 102 where trucks entering and leaving the quarry will be pulling onto the highway.
The board also asked for an update on agreements with the Benton-Washington Regional Water Authority and Centerton, Highfill and Decatur about water lines they have on or near the site.
Most of the requested updates were provided two weeks ago at a Technical Advisory Committee meeting. Chris Collins with the Rogers Group told the board the company has delayed work because it has been heavily involved in other work, notably working on Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department projects on Interstate 40. The completion of that work will allow the company to move crews and equipment to the Benton County site, he said.
Collins also answered questions about blasting duration and frequency . The permit limits operation to 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m.-noon Saturday. Blasting is restricted to 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Collins said the blasting would be infrequent, once or twice a week at most. He said blasting would happen no more than once a day when it is done.
NW News on 04/03/2014