Petitioners request extension in quarry rezone

Courtesy Putnam County Building and Planning

While a special meeting that could pave the way for a new limestone quarry in Waren Township will happen as planned Tuesday, it remains to be seen if any decision will be made.

The Putnam County Commissioners, who will ultimately make the decision on whether or not to rezone approximately 200 acres from agriculture conservation to natural resources, learned Monday morning that the petitioners, Hayman Holdings, had requested that the decision be tabled for 60 days.

While it is unclear if the continuance will be granted, the request came too late to cancel or postpone the scheduled special meeting.

At issue is whether the land situated at the corner of County Road 700 South and 75 East should be rezoned to make way for a new limestone quarry to be operated by Greg Gould and Dana Boyd.

Area residents are adamently in opposition to the request, noting that existing quarries in the area have already had adverse effects on their homes, their land and even their health.

The matter originally went before the Putnam County Plan Commission, which sent it on to the matter on to the Commissioners with a vote of “no recommendation.”

The Commissioners then heard the case last month, but tabled the matter so that attorney Eddie Felling, at the time recently hired by the neighbors, could familiarize himself with the matter.

Commissioner Rick Woodall, who is also a member of the Plan Commission, has also expressed serious questions about the width and the long-term sustainability of county roads in the area if the quarry is allowed, noting that others in the area are on state or U.S. highways.