Members of the public will have a chance to go on the record regarding an asphalt plant proposed in the Town of Ballston during a public hearing Wednesday, Oct. 24.
Plans for the plant have been before the Ballston Planning Board for more than a year, and call for the facility to be built in the Curtis Industrial Park along Route 67. Some residents have been vocally opposed to the idea, citing concerns about pollution and traffic congestion among others, and the upcoming public hearing will be held in regard to the required environmental review of the project.
Planning Board Chairman Richard Doyle said the plans proposed by Callahan Industries Inc., a sister company of Dolomite Products Inc., were unexpected. When the town’s Comprehensive Plan was written in 2006 it listed industrial type uses for the site. The plan did not include it being used for an asphalt plant.
“No one ever thought they’d want to build an asphalt plant there,” Doyle said.
In late February, the Planning Board ordered a draft environmental impact statement (an extra step in the environmental review process the town elected to require of the applicant) and in September, the draft scoping document was completed, which kicks off a 60-day timer to have the scoping document finished. The public hearing will fall 30 days into that process.
Stephanie Ferradino, an attorney representing Dolomite, said there have not been many new developments on the project since it was last before the town.
“We’re launching back in to the process. The scoping was optional under SEQR (the state environmental quality review) to narrow the scope of things to study. It helps to eliminate the study of something that’s not warranted,” said Farradino. “All of the (comments) will be included into the final EIS. Then the town votes on it … they have already addressed (most) of the significant environmental issues.”
The asphalt plant would occupy approximately two of the 10 acres in the industrial park and be in operation for 150 days per year from mid April through mid November. The company estimates the factory would produce about 30,000 tons of asphalt every year.
“They have to haul the rock in, mix it and haul it out. It’s cumbersome,” said Doyle.
Doyle said his office has received comments from residents, and many have requested information from the town about the proposed plant through the Freedom of Information Law. He encouraged any residents with comments on the project to attend the public hearing.
“We’re anxious for people to know that it’s important for them to come to the meeting. … We are also accepting written comments until the 26th of October. That way if they can’t attend the meeting, there’s still two days for them to add their thoughts,” he said.
Doyle also added if the asphalt plant never comes to fruition, he could envision other uses in the industrial park.
“With the GlobalFoundries recent expansion plans, there are probably other businesses interested in locating there,” said Doyle.
He added that he is not aware of any such interested parties, and that if there were any they would go directly through Curtis Industrial Park management.
The public hearing will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Ballston Town Hall.