Board denies both asphalt-related appeals; hours of debate on proposed plant near Valley Springs

By Dana M. Nichols dana@calaversenterprise.com

A divided Calaveras County Board of Supervisors Tuesday denied two separate appeals related to a proposed asphalt plant near Valley Springs.

The first appeal, filed by the advocacy group MyValleySprings.com, sought to overturn a decision by Planning Director Peter Maurer that asphalt plants are allowed without a conditional use permit in industrial zones. The board voted 3-2 to uphold Maurer’s decision. Supervisors Debbie Ponte and Chris Wright were opposed.

The second appeal was filed by Ford Construction and CB Asphalt. It sought to overturn a decision by former Air Pollution Control Officer Brian Moss that some review of environmental impacts is required in order to grant authority to construct the asphalt plant. That vote was 4-1 with Supervisor Michael Oliveira opposed.

Board Chairman Cliff Edson clearly had hoped to vote in Ford Construction’s favor, but said just before the vote that he’d learned something that made him unwilling to overturn Moss. He did not elaborate.

Each vote followed hours of sometimes acrimonious testimony by neighbors, many of whom fear the plant will increase pollution and traffic, and proponents who say impacts are minimal and they simply hope to boost business by adding a new product.

Ford owns the Hogan Quarry on the Calaveras River just downstream from New Hogan Dam. The quarry already produces gravel.

Read Friday’s edition of The Calaveras Enterprise for the full story.