Homeowners near the proposed quarry site have been discussing the future of their neighborhood and they aren’t alone. As plans are made and unmade, other nearby citizens of Sugar Creek and Independence have been joining the conversation by following the public Facebook group STOP the Atherton Quarry to keep up with all the new developments that could impact their friends and families.
Residents are relieved, for the time being, after receiving an update from Sugar Creek city officials at 10:00 AM on October 6th that Audubon Materials decided to withdraw their Rezoning Application to change the current zoning in a rural residential area from M2, which does allow limited commercial use, to M2P, which would greenlight Eagle Materials, another alias of Audubon, to operate a widely contested open pit quarry. Central Plains Cement, yet another alias for the stakeholders, were also seeking the approval of a Special Use Permit Application which would have provided more “flexibility” for their day-to-day operations. When stakeholders were asked to clarify what specific flexible options they were seeking at a Public Hearing on September 16th, 2021, citizens were provided vague explanations that lacked substance.
So what’s next for neighbors who live where stakeholders seek to build the now locally infamous “Atherton Quarry”?
- There will still be an Alderman Meeting open to the public on October 11th at 6:00 PM at the Mike Onka Community Hall on Putnam Street in Sugar Creek. Residents of Sugar Creek and Independence neighbors who stand to bear the brunt of the greatest risk are encouraged to be in attendance to make sure city officials understand that the plans surrounding the proposed quarry are still being closely monitored. Friends and family from other nearby neighborhoods are invited to show their support by standing in solidarity with the community by wearing YELLOW to the meeting.
- While the current application for rezoning and special use of the land has been withdrawn by stakeholders, neighbors are remaining diligent in their efforts to prevent the quarry from ever being approved in the future. Citizens have been informed that Audubon representatives have expressed that they intend to “rethink the plan” as they navigate how to approach the project development in a manner that will be more palatable to the immediately affected adjacent land owners. Currently, locals have rejected all of the proposed traffic routes being sought by stakeholders to transport 40,000 truckloads of mined material from where the quarry would be located. These trucks would be passing private property 80,000 times a year when factoring for round trips to haul material to and from the site.
- Citizens are also still waiting for records to be made public of the original rezoning from Agricultural to M2 for the land in question. Locals remain confused about the supposed zoning change that occurred several years ago despite the fact that none of the current property owners who owned land during that time recall receiving proper notification of this change. As it stands, Jackson County records still show that the land where the quarry would be built is documented as being Agricultural. This means that the current owners of the approximate 800 acres being sought for rezoning would be set back a great deal as an Agricultural Zone does not permit the land to be used for underground mining, let alone an open blast mining operation.
Citizens of Sugar Creek still want solid answers. But when will they get them?
- During a previous Zoning Meeting open to the public on August 26th, 2021 regarding the application to rezone from M2 to M2P, which the legality of is now in question, citizens asked roughly 75 questions on the record looking for answers about the environmental and residential impacts of a dangerous quarry operation existing so close to a dense population. Only sparse and indirect answers have been provided. Citizens are still wondering when they will have those questions from that evening fully addressed.
- An extension of the Zoning and Permit Committee Meeting occurred on September 16th which is when outspoken members of the community asked for clarification for recourse offered to citizens should they believe elected officials tasked with voting for the approval or denial of the current rezoning application were biased due to conflicts of interest. Locals waited for several moments while the committee gathered their thoughts. The question had to be restated multiple times before the committee responded. Those in attendance were told that should a voting member be suspected of having a personal investment in a decision in favor of the quarry operation, they should bring their concerns to the City Attorney. Which begs a follow up question…Does the City Attorney represent the will of the people, or the whims of elected officials?
- Locals also want to be informed as to why the recent application for a permit to rezone from M2 to M2P was accepted by the city in the first place. There is no subsequent documentation designating that the parcels owned by Central Plains Cement were ever rezoned from Agricultural to M2. 1965 was the last time zoning documentation was submitted for the record. Citizens feel the proper paperwork should have been pulled from records and reviewed prior to any of these proceedings taking place. The lack of transparency during the current rezoning proceedings has set the tone for an ominous future regarding the fate of residential property owners in the area.
A battle has been won by neighbors, but the fight is far from over. For now, neighbors are finding respite in the due diligence of research being done by neighbors and friends. You can join the conversation or contribute your own findings by sharing your opinions and facts about the quarry proposal with our local Alderman.
Sugar Creek Elected Officials:
Mike Larson – Mayor
Email: mlarson@sugar-creek.mo.us
Phone: 816-252-4400
JC “Chuck” Mikulich – Alderman First Ward
Email: cmikulich@sugar-creek.mo.us
Phone: 816-252-4400, ext 1135
Christopher Steffen – Alderman First Ward
Email: csteffen@sugar-creek.mo.us
Phone: 816-252-4400, ext 1136
Robert Ray – Alderman Second Ward
Email: rray@sugar-creek.mo.us
Phone: 816-252-4400, ext 1133
Joi Hazelrigg – Alderman Second Ward
Email: jhazelrigg@sugar-creek.mo.us
Phone: 816-252-4400, ext 1134
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