JOHNSON -- The Planning Commission members unanimously denied the proposal for a 58-acre limestone quarry after vocal opposition from residents and Zero Mountain representatives.
Tom Hennelly of Crafton Tull represented Tom Terminella, managing partner of Johnson Mine and APAC who had requested a permit for open mining and quarry for property north of Jupiter Road, east of McGuire Street and west of Ball Street. Hennelly said the purpose of the project is to complete 48th Street from Gregg to Main Street.
However, residents were more concerned with the noise, dust and potential hazards that may happen from such a mining operation. The project could take five to 10 years.
Bob Hill lives just outside of Johnson in Fayetteville and is part of the Johnson Square development. He said the operation will deter businesses and potential visitors and residents from coming to the town.
"I grew up here in the 1950s and '60s and we grew up with a daily bombardment of dynamite blasts. Limestone powder and dust was everywhere," Hills said. "We all have dreams of what we want this town to become and I'm excited about the future of Johnson, but that will not happen if this limestone quarry goes in. I beg you, please don't let this happen."
Zero Mountain is an underground cold storage facility that's been in operation for 62 years. Some of the proposed mining could happen around 100 feet from cold storage units, which contain anubis ammonia. Representatives of the company said they were concerned for their workers and millions of pounds of food product.
"We have 30 people working there at any given time during the day. We've never had a loss of life and we don't intend to," said Mark Rumsey, company chairman.
Hennelly said there's a fundamental misunderstanding about the type of mining they're proposing.
"These would be surgical blasts, because they are in the middle of town. They're not going to go out there a detonate something like you see in Siberia. These things are very small whole and very small charges," he said. "Walls would be put up to separate where the mining is happening from where Zero Mountain is."
After others from the audience in the packed room at City Hall spoke against the quarry, the commission heard from Juliet Richey with Brooks Landscape Architecture who also opposed the request on the grounds didn't met the permit standards.
It also directly conflicts with the Future Land Use Plan for the city, she said in her 11-page memo.
"I would say, in summary, that this use for this area is listed as conditional use for a reason," she said. "They're not always appropriate. In this case, I don't see any mitigating factors that have been taken by the applicant to increase the compatibility in this area, not to mention the longevity of the project and the traffic it would bring to the area."
Hennelly left before the meeting was adjourned and couldn't be reached for comment.
Resident Amy Moore said she thought the commission did the right thing, but she and Hill also said they wouldn't be surprised if Terminella and APAC tried again.
"I feel good that it was denied, and I hope it continues to be denied," Hill said.
NW News on 09/08/2017