From the TimesLeader

By Rory Sweeney

DORRANCE TWP. – It’ll have 15 more hurdles to cross, but the Small Mountain Quarry is one big step closer to nearly tripling its operation after the Planning Commission’s special meeting Thursday.

The commission unanimously recommended the quarry’s new expansion proposal to the Board of Supervisors with 15 conditions. However, requiring the quarry to address a host of complaints from residents before its expansion is approved wasn’t one of them.

Planning Commission solicitor James Schneider said such a condition would require the supervisors to overstep their authority.

“It’s not for the supervisors to make that decision,” he said. “It’s for the zoning officer to enforce township code.”

Dominic Yannuzzi, the township’s engineer and temporary zoning officer, said at the supervisors’ meeting earlier this week that he had found more than two dozen violations filed against the quarry by residents had no merit.

The 15 conditions recommend that an expert be hired to investigate claims of minimal environmental impact made by the quarry, that the township’s zoning officer inspect the site on a regular basis and that the quarry be required to meet with township officials annually. It also recommended, among other things, actions to control noise, dust, hours of operation and aesthetics and address residents’ complaints of power fluctuations when certain crushing equipment is used.

A quarry representative attended the meeting and expressed optimism about the decision.

“We’re pleased with the recommendations,” said Patrick Bartorillo, the quarry’s manager. “We think the recommendations are something that will help the supervisors.”

Rory Sweeney, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 970-7418.