A company that aims to do both scrap metal recycling as well as computer refurbishing hopes that its second attempt at submitting a request for a conditional use permit will allow it to build in Rogers, Ark.
To receive the permit, Central Iron and Metal Co., LLC has made several changes to its initial plan, which it feels will give it the chance to be approved by the city of Rogers’ Planning Commission. The hearing for whether the company will receive the conditional use permit will be made during the Commission’s next meeting, Aug. 5th.
The biggest change in the new submission is the removal of one component of the project – the inclusion of an aluminum smelting operation. In its initial submission, less than six months ago, the company had included the smelter as part of its plan. However, strong opposition resulted in the company pulling this part of the project off the table. Another step the company took to receive the permit has been the inclusion of more comprehensive sound reducing barriers.
Because the proposed facility is located next to an elementary school, as well as the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, there has been concern that the facility, as it initially had been proposed, would generate an unacceptable level of noise. However, Daryl Smith, senior planner with the city of Rogers, says that the company hired an industrial hygienist to help the company structure sound reducing equipment.
According to local press reports, the company stated that it has held meetings with the school and the parks department to work out a way to make the project an acceptable operation.
David Harsh, project manager for CIMCO, said the environmental and noise issues that prompted representatives of the Rogers School District and the city's Parks and Recreation Department to oppose the project have been addressed.
"We presented them the facts about the facility, and we've come up with a design for a sound-abatement wall that is one of the requirements we'll put in, so that we make it a healthy, safe and non-intrusive place for the surrounding people."
If the Planning Commission approves the company’s conditional use permit the next step Central Iron and Metal would next have to submit a large scale development plan to the city’s Planning Commission.