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Despite some dissatisfaction with the plans, Kent County Levy Court commissioners approved in a 5-2 vote on Oct. 27 for a hot mix asphalt plant to be built near Farmington.
Commissioner Eric Buckson made the motion to approve the plans but asked for a list of 30 conditions to be attached, including requiring that a traffic light be built at the intersection of the Route 13 and Nine Foot Road outside of Farmington, where the asphalt plant will be located.
“I am not an engineer or an expert, but I drive a car,” Buckson said in expressing his dissatisfaction with the state not requiring a traffic light at the intersection. He challenged DelDOT’s reasoning that a traffic light would increase the number of accidents and said the light would reduce the number of serious accidents involving trucks crossing lanes of traffic.
The proposed hot mix asphalt plant would be built on a 22-acre parcel along Route 13 that is zoned for industrial use. When completed, the asphalt plant would belong to the Greenwood-based Stafford Properties LLC, and the facility would be adjacent to the municipal waste sorting facility being planned by Eastern Shore Environmental.
The Regional Planning Commission held three public hearings on the Farmington asphalt plant and the Levy Court tabled the project on Sept. 22, following almost four hours of asking questions to the project developers and listening to residents’ concerns.
Commissioner Allan Angel said he had been focused on the chemical and environmental issues to make sure the plant would be safe for the nearby residents.
“They have fulfilled my need to know that people in the area will not be harmed,” Angel said.
Commissioner Brad Eaby proposed an amendment to Buckson’s motion that changed some of the language in the conditions and removed any requirements on how many trucks could travel to and from the asphalt plant each day.
“The trip limitations were not stipulated by RPC,” Eaby said, when asked why he made the change. Eaby also pointed out that a traffic study had already been conducted for the plant to predict the number of trucks that would be traveling to and from the facility each day.
Commissioners Eric Buckson and George “Jody” Sweeney voted against Eaby’s amendments and against the initial motion to approve the asphalt plant.
Buckson, who voted against his own motion, said he had wanted all of his originally proposed conditions to be attached to the asphalt plant.
In other business,
The Levy Court approved a dog-grooming business that will be run by Michael and Angi Goodhand from their home on Philchris Drive, south of Camden.
The commissioners also unanimously approved to spend approximately $8,000 on a 5-foot fence for a dog park that would be located in Tidbury Creek County Park in Dover. Commissioner Brad Eaby said he had been apprehensive about the project at first but had decided to vote for the proposal, given the amount of support from the community for the project.
Despite some dissatisfaction with the plans, Kent County Levy Court commissioners approved in a 5-2 vote on Oct. 27 for a hot mix asphalt plant to be built near Farmington.
Commissioner Eric Buckson made the motion to approve the plans but asked for a list of 30 conditions to be attached, including requiring that a traffic light be built at the intersection of the Route 13 and Nine Foot Road outside of Farmington, where the asphalt plant will be located.
“I am not an engineer or an expert, but I drive a car,” Buckson said in expressing his dissatisfaction with the state not requiring a traffic light at the intersection. He challenged DelDOT’s reasoning that a traffic light would increase the number of accidents and said the light would reduce the number of serious accidents involving trucks crossing lanes of traffic.
The proposed hot mix asphalt plant would be built on a 22-acre parcel along Route 13 that is zoned for industrial use. When completed, the asphalt plant would belong to the Greenwood-based Stafford Properties LLC, and the facility would be adjacent to the municipal waste sorting facility being planned by Eastern Shore Environmental.
The Regional Planning Commission held three public hearings on the Farmington asphalt plant and the Levy Court tabled the project on Sept. 22, following almost four hours of asking questions to the project developers and listening to residents’ concerns.
Commissioner Allan Angel said he had been focused on the chemical and environmental issues to make sure the plant would be safe for the nearby residents.
“They have fulfilled my need to know that people in the area will not be harmed,” Angel said.
Commissioner Brad Eaby proposed an amendment to Buckson’s motion that changed some of the language in the conditions and removed any requirements on how many trucks could travel to and from the asphalt plant each day.
“The trip limitations were not stipulated by RPC,” Eaby said, when asked why he made the change. Eaby also pointed out that a traffic study had already been conducted for the plant to predict the number of trucks that would be traveling to and from the facility each day.
Commissioners Eric Buckson and George “Jody” Sweeney voted against Eaby’s amendments and against the initial motion to approve the asphalt plant.
Buckson, who voted against his own motion, said he had wanted all of his originally proposed conditions to be attached to the asphalt plant.
In other business,
The Levy Court approved a dog-grooming business that will be run by Michael and Angi Goodhand from their home on Philchris Drive, south of Camden.
The commissioners also unanimously approved to spend approximately $8,000 on a 5-foot fence for a dog park that would be located in Tidbury Creek County Park in Dover. Commissioner Brad Eaby said he had been apprehensive about the project at first but had decided to vote for the proposal, given the amount of support from the community for the project.
