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From Leesburg Today
Loudoun County
Quarry Expansion Plan Challenged
Teresa Brumback
Mar 11, 2004 -- Residents from Prince William and Fairfax counties travelled to Leesburg Tuesday night to fight Luck Stone Corp’s plans for the long-term expansion of its Bull Run quarry.
The board of supervisors held a public hearing on applications to rezone land around the existing 55-acre quarry off Rt. 659 at the far southeastern edge of the county to allow for future expansion by 142 acres. Additionally, the county’s Quarry Notification Overlay District would be expanded to ensure that future residents were made aware of the proximity of the heavy industrial operation.
The expansion would be subject to 40 conditions, including the relocation and widening of Rt. 659. Supporters of the project highlighted family-owned Luck Stone’s history of civic involvement and close cooperation with neighbors at its Leesburg and Ashburn operations.
Critics, comprising most of the nearly 30 speakers, opposed the increase truck traffic and noise. Opponents included the National Park Service, which said that noise from an expanded operation could affect efforts to interpret the story of the Civil War for visitors to the nearby Manassas Battlefield National Park. Several speakers said that the quarry should be able to continue operations at the 55-acre site, which is believed to have a 30 year supply remaining, but not be permitted to expand.
The board sent the applications for review by its Land Use Committee next week.
County Chairman Scott K. York (I-At Large), Vice Chairman Bruce E. Tulloch (R-Potomac) and others suggested that the committee consider an unprecedented condition that would tie approvals for long-term quarry expansion to the continued ownership of the property by Luck Stone. York said the company had proven itself to be a good corporate citizen, but if Luck Stone sold the quarry he said the project should come back to the board of supervisors for review.
Supervisor Stephen J. Snow (R-Dulles), who supports the expansion, said that residents’ concerns over traffic need to be hammered out jointly by Loudoun and Prince William leaders. He also criticized unknown people, who he said were Prince William County residents, for distributing a flier opposing the project to South Riding homes with “nefarious intent.” The flier had no names or contact information, he said, but it contained “inaccurate facts” and “lies.”