tony jeter dot com

I am very disappointed with the outcome of the Council vote tonight on a Conditional Use Permit for a Quarry on HWY 36. By a 2 to 1 vote the Council has effectively denied a piece of property that has been used, off and on, as a quarry for over 50 years a permit to continue to function as a quarry.  Since two Council members abstained from the vote a unanimous vote was needed to pass permit request.  I sympathize with the residents from the area that worked hard to come up with any and every reason why the permit request should be denied.  The dirt, noise and traffic arguments that we here fairly frequently form folks wanting to stop various kinds of development from occurring in their “backyard” were used very persuasively. I believe that these arguments were addressed in the 23 conditions that the applicants agreed to include in the permit. Many of which were way over and above what are the minimum standards set by the Feds, State and City. Never mind this fact though. Never mind that most of these residents had moved into the area knowing full well that was a quarry in their backyard. Never mind that the applicants had received regulatory approval from the EPA, TCEQ and TxDot and were willing to agree to numerous conditions that were over and above the minimum standards as set by City ordinance. Never mind that they could have started mining without even requesting a permit or voluntary annexation.  Never mind that the quarry has been there for 50 years. Just never mind.

Click here to view the agenda item with supporting documentation.
Click here to view my previous post on this topic.