Lower Milford Planning Committee discusses Geryville Quarry Preliminary Plan

The owner and attorney for Geryville Materials met with Lower Milford planners to discuss issues such as road improvements and razing buildings related to the company's longstanding and controversial proposal -- submitted seven years ago -- for a quarry.

Geryville owner David Rittenhouse and attorney Terry Parish represened the company at the Sept. 12 planning commission meeting. The company's proposal to build the quarry on 628 acres on both sides of W. Mill Hill and Buhman roads goes back to 2004. Geryville is in talks with the planners and zoning hearing board about its preliminary plan.

On the subject of improving roads surrounding the site, Geryville had proposed making improvements to over a four-year period after the plan's approval. Geryville has proposed a $1.6 million donation in lieu of road improvements.

Parish disagreed with the requirements. “It will not be used by the developer,” he said of the road improvements. He contended that the improvements would be used on roads not used for the quarry operation.

Planning commission solicitor David Backenstoe described the road improvement proposal as unusual. Geryville is still seeking approval from other agencies, including the township zoning board, and may have to enter an appeals process that could take up to six years. This would possibly postpone road improvements for 10 years.

“I disagree with the timing of this,” said township solicitor Mark Cappuccio.

Geryville decided to delay the road improvement plan until all parties agree on conditions.

Confusion arose on how the preliminary plan was presented. The 628 acres is made up of several different lots. Geryville had presented its survey on all the land involved, but township ordinances prevent lots from being consolidated when divided by public roads.

“We have to apply it that way,” said township secretary Ellen Koplin about dividing the 628 acres into designated lots.

Township resident Laurie Sickenberger said of the lot issue, “There has been much controversy on the issue over the years.” She and planning commission members said Geryville had used different calculations for its zoning board presentation and others for the planning commission.

“There is conflicting testimony,” said Cappuccio.

The meeting began with a small audience but an hour into the session a group arrived in shirts with matching insignias, with one man wearing a shirt saying “crush the quarry.”

The planners then discussed the proposed razing of buildings on the  site, which has older historic buildings that need to be characterized.

Geryville said it was waiting for an agreement on the issue. “We don't want to tear them down,” said Rittenhouse. He said he would be in favor of ways to keep the buildings standing but that current conditions would not allow both an old farm building and the quarry on the same site.

“I can't have that stop the project,” Rittenhouse said.

During the public comment period, township resident Don Weinberger spoke in support of the historic buildings.

The planners then discussed pending approval of Subdivision and Land Development (SALDO) requirements along with road signage, sewage plans and other permits.

The commission agreed to a special meeting at 7:30pm Sept. 28 to continue discussion of the quarry.

In other matters, the planners tabled action on a proposal from DeKrane Commercial Center for a two-building complex on 3.4 acres on Dekrane Drive. Also tabled was the developer's request for a 120-day extension on the plan's action date. Approving the extension would move action on the center from Sept. 28 to Jan. 26, with a tentative decision date of Jan. 29. Owner Dennis Dekrane of D&D Maintenance was not at the meeting.