Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Site plan for quarry tabled
Board to seek more information; residents pack meeting
BENTONVILLE — Benton County’s Planning Board on Wednesday night voted to table a site plan for a limestone quarry.
Planner Rick Williams made the motion to table the request in order to get more information. Planners discussed needing more information concerning whether the Trail of Tears went through the area or any other historical significance.
The planners also discussed wanting to have have more information concerning the possible environmental impact from the quarry and how they will warranty water wells in the area.
Planner Bob Bracy said some issues were unclear and
he needed more information. Planner Stephen Torrez wanted more information concerning the traffic in the area.
The board voted 6-1 to table the request indefinitely.
Planner Sean Collyge said questions and concerns may be addressed, but the board still will have to determine whether the quarry in compatible with the area. Collyge was the lone vote against tabling the permit.
The quarry site is at 1425 N. Old Wire Road where red dirt is taken from the Cross Hollows mine. The area is just northeast of Lowell. Parts of the 135 acres owned by David Covington are laid out in sections of 10 acres. Each 10-acre parcel represents a five-year operating period for limestone production, according to the Planning Department’s executive summary on the project. Anchor Stone from Tulsa, Okla., would lease the land and quarry the stone.
Rogers attorney David Matthews told Planning Board members he represented residents living near the site.
“None of you would want to to buy property from them because you know the value of their property will be diminished,” Matthews said.
Matthews urged the board to deny the permit and protect the rights of property owners.
Many in the audience applauded as Matthews walked away from the podium.
Lowell Alderman Eric Shine told the planners many of the residents have been asked to be annexed into the city and that the county would end up repairing roads that will end up in Lowell.
Lowell’s City Council submitted a resolution opposing the quarry to the Planning Board.
Tommy Elmore said he had plans for his property and the proposed quarry will destroy his plans and impact the price of his property.
The board heard from several other individuals in the packed courtroom where many people stood in the back of the room. There was applause after each speaker.
Many people were wearing white T-shirts with red letters stating, “Please Vote No, Stop the Quarry.”
There were people at the hearing supporting the quarry. Dozens of people were wearing green shirts attended the hearing.
There were supporters for the quarry at the hearing. Many sat on one side of the courtroom.
Tammy Jones said the property is owned by local owners and providing jobs for the area. Jones said there has been misinformation about the project and that the owners aren’t out to hurt anyone.
Jason Dunn said he works for the Covingtons and described them as good people. Dunn said the Covingtons are willing to work with the residents. “This man is willing to compromise and help people out,” Dunn said. “You are only seeing me, me and me.
Dunn urged the people to work with the Covingtons and come up with solutions.
Dunn said limestone is needed to build roads and other construction projects. Applause followed Dunn as he walked away from the podium.
Bill Watkins, the attorney for Covington, said the property has been used as a limestone quarry and other mining. “Historically this property has been a source of natural resources,” he said.
Watkins said the planners job is to make sure regulations and procedures are followed and their decisions shouldn’t be impacted by politics or public sentiment.
Tim Sorey with Sand Creek Engineering told planners they’ll place a warranty on wells up to a half a mile from the site.
The board tabled the proposal at meetings Nov. 7 and Dec. 5 so the applicant could provide more information to the Planning Department.
Many residents who live in the area have cited possible well water contamination, noise from blasting and increased heavy truck traffic on Old Wire Road either before the Planning Board or through email and phone calls to the Planning Department or County Judge Barry Moehring’s office. The county has received more than 135 email about the quarry since Nov. 2, county officials said.
The limestone would be used for area road projects. The project has all the required Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality permits, a Planning Department summary states. The quarry would operate from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the summer and from daylight to dusk in the winter, according to planning documents.
It’s estimated 35 to 50 dump trucks a day would haul limestone from the quarry depending on the size and location of a particular project, Sorey said previously. Sand Creek represents Anchor Stone at the Planning Board meetings. A loaded truck would weigh more than 20 tons, Sorey said.
A rock crusher and blasting are part of the project, according to planning documents. Blasting would be done once a month. Blasting usually happens in the late morning or early afternoon, Sorey said.