CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — It's been years in the making, but the fate of a proposed asphalt plant in Richland Township was decided Tuesday in the Cambria County Court of Common Pleas.
More than two dozen residents who live near the proposed site appealed the Richland zoning board's decision to allow Quaker Sales Corporation to build an asphalt plant off of mine 37 road.
In their appeal, residents cited several concerns, including odors and sound emanating from the plant, traffic congestion, and more.
Residents also pointed out that they believed an asphalt plant did not fit Richland’s zoning requirements for that property.
In a decision handed down Tuesday by the court of common pleas, the court ruled in favor of the residents, granting their appeal, and ordering Richland Township to refuse Quaker Sales from moving forward with the proposed plant.
In his ruling, Judge Kenneth Valasek found that this was a "light industrial zone," according to Richland’s zoning ordinance, and that an asphalt plant would not be suited for that zoning. In his decision, Valasek also pointed out that allowing an asphalt plant, which he says falls under “heavy industrial use” zoning, according to Richland's zoning ordinance, would deter other light-industrial businesses from moving into that zoning district.
It's unclear if Quaker Sales plans to appeal the decision.
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