Lafarge mining expansion opposed by property owners

by Peter Jakey–

LAFARGE PLANT manager Allan Idalski addressed many of the issues that were brought up. The rezoning area represents less than 0.5 percent of the current mining area. He said there would not be any changes from the current mining operations. (Photo by Peter Jakey)

Managing Editor

Lafarge North America, owners of Presque Isle Quarry, has made a rezoning request to continue mining operations of company owned property in Presque Isle Township that has been met with strong opposition among property owners.

Lafarge is requesting that 19 acres that is currently zoned farming being changed to mining to get at a high-quality stone for its customers and to maintain its work force.

On April 7, the planning commission, before a large group of property owners opposed to the request, voted 4-2 in favor of the rezoning request and forwarded to the township board of trustees.

A petition with more than 200 signatures was submitted to members of the Presque Isle Township board Monday night at its regular meeting.

The petition requests that the rezoning request be denied because it violates the township’s master plan, approved in January 2014. “The overall goals in Presque Isle  master plan clearly do not support the expansion of mining in Presque Isle, but instead the preservation of our natural resources,” the petition states. Included on the list of those opposed is the Grand Lake Association.

The master plan states that there should not be any more expansion of the quarry and that the buffer zone of 1,000 feet from the quarry mining and property owners be maintained.

Township clerk Cynthia Paavola said the decision by the township board would be made at the May 11 meeting. The county’s planning and zoning commission has 30 days to comment on the matter from the time they received it.

Trustees commented that it has received numerous e-mails and letters from property owners.

“I received 70-some e-mails, probably close to 40 phone calls,” said supervisor Mark Devers. “I do thank those who kept a level of decorum and stated your case. There is not going to be any snap decision made. There is nothing political. There is nothing that is going to be done outside of the Open Meetings Act.”

Paavola said she received “bullying letters,” making demands to deny the request and she did not appreciate them.

During the public comment period, Devers started on one side of the packed room and allowed anyone who raised their hand to speak. He set a time limit of three minutes, but did not keep track of the time or cut off anybody’s comments.

Sharon Paltelky spoke first and asked for the removal of the four members of the planning commission who voted for rezoning at the April 7 meeting. They are Cliff Taylor, Bill Yakin, Howard Welsh and Bill Schwartz. Voting against it were Paavola and Stephen Lang.

One of the reasons Sharon Paltelky asked for their removal is because, “The four members disregarded the 200-plus property owners of this community who had signed a petition stating they were opposed to the rezoning.”

Sharon Paltelky also questioned whether there had been a SHPO (State Historic Preservation Offices) study of the property. “As we all know this area was once the home of Native Americans.”

She believes the four commission members rushed the vote April 7 and would like township officials to take a month or two to “have an open and honest dialog. It also would give other property owners a chance to return to the area and be involved in the process.”

Trustee Lynn Morrison said, “We have a lot to look into.” He commented that he could not sleep for three nights before the meeting and that it will not be an easy decision. “This is tough ladies and gentlemen. We’ve got employment and people’s lives on the line. We have property values on the line. There are a lot of things going down here.” The final decision will be with the township board.

“We don’t have all the facts in yet,” said Devers. “I don’t think there needs to be a rush on anything.”

“I think the (planning commission

) vote was premature,” said trustee Patricia Hart. “I think we need a lot more study before we make that final judgement.”

Morrison interjected that he did not believe it would be appropriate to remove planning commission members at this time, “With everything that is going on,” he said.

Attila Paltelky, who is chairman of the planning commission and was gone from the area for three months, believes members should have walked the property before voting. He was surprised, “There were no facts, no engineering study, no scientific information to support why you are wanting the expansion.”

(The complete story appears in the April 16, 2015 edition of the Presque Isle County Advance)