Quarry Decision Expected In A Few Weeks

Tuesday, November 6th 2007, 6:25 am

By: News On 6

Neighbors who donâ€™t want a quarry to move in next door are making sure itâ€™s a rocky road for the applicant. Another meeting was held Tuesday night in Sand Springs to discuss the proposal. A company wants to quarry limestone on a 515 acre site, but those who live nearby say it doesnâ€™t belong there. The News On 6 anchor Craig Day reports the meeting was the final opportunity for public comment before the Sand Springs Planning Commission.

There was plenty of opposition from people who are concerned that a quarry would have a negative impact on the area. Before a crowd of several hundred people, the Sand Springs Planning Commission heard the final arguments over a proposed rock quarry. Most of the people at the meeting don't want a quarry near their homes.

Ida Stubblefield and others who live at the Lucille Paige Manor Apartments have been at all of the meetings.

"Because I'm very definitely against it. Because it's going to ruin our apartments,â€ said Ida Stubblefield of Sand Springs.

"With all that blasting, and all that dust it won't do any good for me at all,â€ added Lois Cannady of Sand Springs.

Backers want to quarry limestone over a 20 to 25 year period. The vacant land sits between Avery Drive and 41st street, east of highway 97.

But many people are concerned.

"What it is going to do to us. The environment. The land and the values and the people. It's not a good thing,â€ said Sand Springs resident Pat Williams.

Opponents also worry about additional noise and traffic.

130 trucks per day are expected to pull out of the quarry.

"The infrastructure is going to be bombed sounds like if they let them do what they want to do,â€ added Lee Williams of Sand Springs.

Supporters of the quarry say state safeguards are in place to control air and water quality. And, the quarry would have a limited blasting schedule.

"It will only be two possibly three blasts in a single week period. That will provide sufficient material for the operation to go forth. It's not an unlimited deal. It's not seven days a week. It's not at all hours of the day,â€ said Tommy Mathews with Westward Environmental.

Backers also say blasting won't cause damage to homes. And, they say the quarry will have a positive impact on the economy.

People who live in the area can still submit written comments on the quarry to the City Of Sand Springs Planning and Development Department until the end of this week.

The next planning commission meeting is set for November 20th. The commission could make a final decision on the application then, or in early December.

Watch the video: Quarry Meeting In Sand Springs

Related story:

9/18/2007 Community Trying To Stop Proposed Rock Quarry