Gravel Operation Seeks Variance for Asphalt Plant

An Indiana-based gravel and concrete operation is scheduled to go before a zoning board of appeals to ask for a variance to operate an asphalt plant at its existing site.

The Wayne County, Indiana, Board of Zoning Appeals will be hearing testimony Oct. 9 by a company that is seeking to have a permanent variance for an asphalt plant to operate at the company’s gravel pit.

Stonehenge Concrete and Gravel Co., received a two-year zoning variance last year to operate its asphalt plant. The company’s request to have a permanent variance for the asphalt plant was requested 10 months later.

The company is now slated to go before the Board of Zoning Appeals to again ask for a permanent variance for the property. The asphalt operation would cover around five acres on the company’s operations, which cover more than 100 acres.

According to a representative from the Board of Zoning Appeals, after hearing testimony from the company, as well as opponents and proponents, the board can either approve the request for permanent variance, including approve with restrictions; reject the request; issue a temporary permit again; or push back the decision and allow the company to address a number of issues that may have been brought up.

Several of the issues that the board will consider when deciding whether to issue the company a variance include the following: the affect the facility would have on the public health; the impact the plant would have on the surrounding property; the peculiars of the property involved; and if the operation would interfere with the county’s Comprehensive Master Plan.

According to local press reports, Matt Jetmore, president of Stonehenge, wants the permanent variance so his business can attract a larger customer base.

"Asphalt plants want to locate as close to their aggregate source as possible," Jetmore said. "The planning horizons on some of those jobs are years."