Commission Denies CIMCO Appeal

The Rogers, Ark., City Council denied a metal salvage operator's appeal to operate at 1000 N. Second St. and sent another appeal for annexing property along South First Street back to the Planning Commission.

David Harsh, project manager for Central Iron and Metal Co. LLC, asked the council to reconsider the commission's denial to build the salvage operation just north of the Rogers Activity Center and Northside Elementary School.

The property is zoned light industrial, and CIMCO was required to obtain a conditional-use permit to put a metal salvage operation on the property.

The permit for the original project was denied in January following strong response from school officials and the city's park department, Harsh said.

The issues brought forward from that meeting -- including pollution, noise levels and the appearance of the site -- have all been resolved, Harsh said.

The company paid an industrial hygienist to perform sound studies and propose appropriate remedies.

Among the suggestions incorporated into the plan was a 200-foot-long wall of masonry and wood to act as a sound barrier.

The company also removed an aluminum smelter from the plan to help satisfy concern over environmental questions.

Harsh also pointed out only two people voiced concern with the issue at the Planning Commission meeting when the revised plan was brought forward.

"My feeling is that this type of project doesn't belong in this zone," Alderman Mark Kruger said.

Kruger's comments echoed the comments of several planning commissioners.

The council voted 7 to 1 to uphold the commission's decision. Arkansas Morning News