Road Improvement Options Rejected by Lower Milford Planners

Members of the Lower Milford Planning Commission agreed to require minimal improvements to Buhman and W. Mill Hill roads if the proposed Geryville Materials Inc. quarry plan is accepted. The company said it would consider the proposal.  

At the July 11 meeting, the commission added the clause “with fee in lieu of” to the requirement. This means Geryville must either make all required road improvements or give the township the equivalent amount for what's not done, allowing the township to make the improvements.

Geryville attorney Terry Parish proposed two options earlier at the meeting: 

• Geryville would pay for all improvements, and maintain those improvements for the life of the quarry, or
• Pay $25,000 to the township each year for the life of the quarry.

The commissioners rejected both proposals because:

• Parish could not give a reason on why $25,000 was set as the payment amount.
• $25,000 will not be worth the same in even 10 years.
• There are no guarantees that Geryville will maintain the improvements or pay the $25,000, and court costs to have the company abide by an agreement could be astronomical.

Planning commission attorney David Backenstoe asked township engineer J. Cheryleen Strothers to read a report that puts the estimated cost of road improvements at $2.5 million. He then made the “minimal improvements with fee in lieu of” proposal to Geryville.

Parish said he will present the proposal to his clients, with a decision by the next meeting.