Middle Zoners Approve Future Mining Site Plan

COURT HOUSE — In a 6-1 vote, the Middle Township Zoning Board approved a controversial development site plan application that’s been under review for over a year and a half.
The board gave the go-ahead Thursday, Dec. 11 to Albrecht and Heun, and its subsidiary Future Mining and Recyling Inc., to build a sand and gravel mining facility and class B recycling center on a 253-acre parcel off Indian Trail Road in Burleigh.
Over numerous months and through a dozen lengthy meetings, the board heard expert testimony for and against the proposed project and countless comments from citizens who were concerned about possible impacts.
All that was left for the board to do Dec. 11 was to rule on a few outstanding conditions before its vote.
Board member Joyce Jewel said the fact that the applicant agreed to test well monitoring program made her feel much more comfortable about voting for the application.
As board member Arthur Cornell cast his vote in favor of the plan, he remarked on the unfortunate bitterness both sides had shown toward the other throughout the proceedings. He noted that he was the only board member to vote against the application when it was up for a use variance more than two years ago.
“If all the people were here for the use variance, it wouldn’t have been approved,” Cornell said.
Board Chairman James McLaughlin said that in his opinion the applicant made its case that the project would not be a significant detriment to the township zoning plan or to public welfare. He too voted in the affirmative.
Daniel Money was the only board member to vote against the project. He did so without comment.
Future Mining must now get approvals from the state Department of Environmental Protection before proceeding with construction.
Also, the opposing parties may appeal the zoning board’s decision in Superior Court.
For the complete story, see the Herald’s Dec. 17 print edition.