Zoning Board Denies Rock Quarry In Castalian Springs
News Channel 5
By Chris Cannon
July 14, 2011
SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. - A group of concerned homeowners in Castalian Springs won a big a victory on Thursday night. After a nearly three hour meeting, the board of zoning appeals voted to deny a request to allow a company to build a rock quarry.
It was standing room only as hundreds of people, wearing red, came out to make it clear they don't want the rock quarry in their backyards.
"We're all thrilled, but we understand that's probably just the first round. They'll probably appeal it but we had a good turnout, a good legal presentation, and our citizens out there came through," said opposition organizer Tom Neal.
Opponents said a rock quarry in this part of Sumner County would destroy an historic area and the quality of life in Castalian Springs.
Attorneys for the developer, Hoover Incorporated, contended the law states a quarry can go here and they now plan to take their fight to a judge.
"We are disappointed because we feel the board didn't follow the law. But from the outset, everybody pretty well realized that this matter that was going to find its way into the judicial system," said attorney Tom White.
Sumner County's executive Anthony Holt said he's ready for that court battle.
"That doesn't scare me. We'll be prepared and we'll defend the county's position, because I do feel that it was the right position to take," Anthony Holt said.
Tom White said he is not sure if he'll take his case to chancery court, or circuit court -- but he made it clear the next stop for this issue is a courtroom.
In addition to the rock quarry, the developer also want to locate an asphalt plant and cement plant on that property.
4 comments:
If Castalian Springs wins this fight all together, the citizens of Sumner County need to get with county government and the zoning board to REZONE Castalian Springs as an INVIOLABLE HISTORIC PROTECTION ZONE that absolutely excludes a specified range of potentially damaging future activities.
Figuratively speaking, put an impenetrable legal fence around the place that is as strong as the one around the U.S. Air Force's AREA 51 in Nevada. This is the only way it will be protected rightly down the road. These plans should be drawn up in full consultation with the following:
A team of lawyers
Community Planning Experts
Tennessee Historical Commission
Tennessee Division of Archaeology
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
Walter Durham, Kevin Smith at MTSU, John Garrott, Tracy Brown, and other archaeological/historical professionals and local citizens who have Castalian Springs prehistory and history literally flowing through their veins.
Someone has to draw a legal line in the sand, do it wisely, and draw it there FOREVER so this never happens again. Put up a legal wall so tight that no corporate attorney would ever dare an attempt to breach it.
THE TIME TO DRAW THAT LINE IN THE SAND IS NOW. THE TIME TO BEGIN IS NOW.
By the way, can someone please tell me who the ignoramus was that officially defined a rock quarry operation as "agriculture." Someone needs to have a really serious talk with that person, and considering permanent institutionalization might not be a bad idea.
I couldn't agree more! WHY would anybody consider that kind of operation AGRICULTURAL?!?
This should be a wake up call for Tennesseans to take an active role in state government. Some of the problems in this case stem from antiquated state laws.
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