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East Rockhill quarry expansion question swells bleachers at Pennridge

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Several hundred people flocked to an East Rockhill Zoning Hearing Board meeting with a host of questions and concerns about a long-dormant quarry that has begun operating again in the township.

While officials held the meeting at Pennridge High School to accommodate the expected big crowd, the initial room the meeting was in proved too small given the huge turnout.

The hearing relocated to a gym within the school, where residents filled the bleachers, many anxious about Rockhill Quarry’s potential impacts – impacts that they fear will include road hazards from big trucks, a drawing down of local groundwater, pollution of streams and drinking water, persistent invasive noise from operations, and diminished property values.

“I’m appalled by this,” said one woman. “It’s a major health concern,” said another.

The purpose of the hearing, held March 14, was for East Rockhill’s Zoning Hearing Board to consider Richard E. Pierson Materials Corporation’s appeal of a township zoning officer determination that special exception approval is required for Pierson to operate the quarry located at 2055 North Rockhill Road.

In January, the zoning officer denied Pierson’s zoning permit application for extraction operations for, among other reasons, lack of special exception approval from the zoning board.

While the March 14 meeting was supposed to be the start of the formal hearing on the matter, the zoning board decided to adjourn the quasi-judicial proceeding to allow Pierson to give an informal presentation on its operation to residents.

The presentation was, quarry officials said, a good-faith effort to be transparent and answer as many questions as possible about what is planned at the 219-acre site, which Pierson is leasing from property owner Hanson Aggregates Pennsylvania. The more formal hearing would not have allowed for such an expansive overview and question exchange, officials said.

Pierson plans to use the quarry to support its $224 million project, which centers on reconstructing and widening approximately 7 miles of the Northeast Extension from Lansdale to a mile marker west of Sellersville.

During the March 14 presentation, one of the hot topics discussed was truck traffic. Residents raised concerns about a proposed route for load-bearing trucks because it winds through what they characterized as residential roads that can be narrow and curving — where they said the potential for accidents and pedestrian strikes will be high.

Robert Gundlach Jr., an attorney representing Pierson, noted that a final traffic study/plan had not yet been completed, but will be in the coming weeks. He said his client is looking into the possibility of utilizing available rail lines to move loads from the site – a practice that would help alleviate some truck traffic.

“We’re going to look at truck volume, existing volume and potential improvements” to make truck routing safe, Gundlach told meeting attendees.

Richard Pierson, president/owner of Pierson Materials, said his company intends to be a good neighbor to residents, stating that the firm operates other quarries without issue and characterizing the business as a reputable outfit with more than 40 years experience.

“We have good relationships with the towns where we operate,” Pierson said.

Rockhill Quarry was inactive since the early 1980s until operations recommenced in recent months, officials have said.

The resumed activity came as a shock to nearby residents, who say activities have already resulted in highly invasive noise and increased stream sedimentation. Over the years, Hanson Aggregates Pennsylvania has maintained a state-issued permit regarding the quarry site.

The formal zoning hearing board meeting on the quarry operation is expected to begin on April 25 at 6 p.m., again at Pennridge High School. At least one additional hearing is anticipated in May.

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