Concrete plant owners to hold community meeting
Residents worry about health, environment impacts of proposed business
The owners of a proposed concrete plant in the Ophir area are planning a community update meeting to provide more information to concerned residents. James O’Malley, consultant for Livingston’s Concrete Service, said the meeting will include a more “visual and graphic” presentation of the proposed concrete batch plant for a five-acre space on the corner of Ophir and Geraldson roads in Auburn. The meeting is not sponsored by the county, O’Malley said. “The true intent is to describe the project in detail with factual data,” O’Malley said. O’Malley said the company is aware of fliers and petitions that have circulated among some neighbors and they would like to address those concerns. Auburn resident Joe Leonard is among those who are worried about the health and visual impacts of a concrete batch plant in their neighborhood. Leonard said he can see the site of the proposed plant from his backyard deck. “We have a community of fine homes and we don’t need that kind of trash,” Leonard said. “It gives nothing to the community and subtracts a whole lot.” However, project leaders estimate the plant will create 13 to 20 jobs in the community and bring in about $500,000 in sales tax revenue a year. O’Malley said he hopes the meeting will address concerns including noise, traffic and visual impact as well as fear of the plant negatively impacting ground water in the area. “All of the impacts that are of concern are mitigated,” O’Malley said. O’Malley said an environmental impact report addresses water concerns. He said the operation would use “less than a third of the daily availability.” Traffic would increase by about 1.3 percent on Ophir Road. That traffic would mostly be concrete trucks, he said. He added that the project “conforms fully to the existing general plan land use designations” for the area. Leonard said he hasn’t decided yet whether he’ll go to the company’s meeting. He said he has read the environmental impact report for the project and thinks project leaders are minimizing the effects the plant will have on water, pollution, traffic and more in the area “They want to minimize the water aspect and the pollution aspect and the traffic aspect,” Leonard said. “It’s almost laughable when they’re saying this road was built to handle this kind of abuse and there’s no way it is.” The community meeting will start at 6 p.m. Aug. 25 at the Auburn Veterans Hall on 100 East St. in Auburn. Jenifer Gee can be reached at jeniferg@goldcountrymedia.com.
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Look below the ground. This plant will use well water, the amount of water used could decimate the wells in the area. Don't just look above ground.
Don't believe everything you hear about the water
There comes a point when you have to support businesses in your town, and quit the "Not in MY backyard" mentality. Placer County needs the tax dollars that a company like this would produce to provide services that we all would benefit from. This will probably be shot down just as the Chevereaux Plant was in Meadow Vista (which would be completed by now, and would have paid for the still incomplete Community Center in Meadow Vista).
Where's all the whining about not putting it in he city limits like we heard about costco?
Geology, I don't live near the proposed plant, so no skin off my nose. Please let us know in what way will all the money this plant will provide for the county help the nearby residents when their wells are sucked dry?
Loomisresident - I don't have the numbers for the amount of water the batch plant will be using in front of me, and it is actually in my training. They already have a daily allocation of water, of which they said that they would not use 2/3's of. If using 1/3 of their allocated water would dry nearby wells, well, hate to say it with little compassion but the nearby wells aren't deep enough. If they go over their allocation, then yes, the plant would be fined and/or shut down due to numerous violations of regulations and environmental laws.
One thing to remember - water is a renewable resource.
Might check with PCWA they appear to be installing a ditch water supply to the property in the letter.
"Auburn resident Joe Leonard is among those who are worried about the health and visual impacts of a concrete batch plant in their neighborhood. Leonard said he can see the site of the proposed plant from his backyard deck.
“We have a community of fine homes and we don’t need that kind of trash,” Leonard said. “It gives nothing to the community and subtracts a whole lot.”
Gee Joe, I wonder if you can see and hear I-80 from your house? ..sounds a lot like another NIMBY.....
harleyrider,
The only "whining" you'll hear on this thread will come from the people who are already living within view and earshot of the freeway.
If there was a location within the city that Livingston wanted to purchase and use for this plant, it would be GREAT! The City of Auburn would welcome the tax revenue.
auburnite nailed it! Besides, wasn't Ophir Road formerly U.S. Hywy 40? To say this road wasn't built for this type traffic is a bit of a stretch!
Best advice would be to actually LOOK at the general plan for your area before you buy. It's difficult to feel too sorry for these folks who are already within sight and sound of the interstate freeway.
Geology - The people of Ophir do not mind having businessess in their community. This type of business is not proper for this location, that is why a Conditional Use Permit is necessary. It needs to be away from residences, schools etc., somewhere like where the dump is located. Oh, thats right, Livingston's already has one in an area like that, in Lincoln which is in Placer County. They already get the tax dollars they want. I will tell you how much water this plant will use on a daily basis. They will use approximately 10,000 gallons a day and produce around 300 yards of concrete. The plant in Lincoln can produce 240 yards in an hour. Yes, that right and hour. No, the plant will not be shut down if they use more water, the county has already said they will not be watching. The county does not care. Get it!
You talk about freeway noise - yes you can hear jake brake noise sometimes. This plant will be alot louder than any freeway nise.
You are wrong, this road was not made to carry the number of heavy semi type trucks on it. Look at what damage has been done by the other business on Ophir that has big trucks. The county has already stated they are not going to fix the road.
Actually, the Ophir General Plan states the type of businesses that should be in the area. Concrete Batch Plants are NOT one on them.
To all that are against: Do you have a concrete drive way? Pool?. Front porch? Sidewalk? Fence post? If you do, where do you think it came from? Oh yeah! Somewhere else.
The plant is going in an industrial area. There is already an asphalt plant in the vicinity. I think the plant should use affluent from the Auburn sewer plant to make their concrete. All businesses in Placer County have conditional use permits. Conditional Use Permits don't have a thing to do with zoning.