From the Citizens Voice  

The owners of Small Mountain Quarry in Dorrance Township are attempting to reverse a state judge's decision denying the company special exceptions for a proposed quarry expansion.  

Slusser Bros., a subsidiary of Pennsy Supply Inc. that owns and operates Small Mountain Quarry, filed on Wednesday an application for reargument with Commonwealth Court asking the court to reconsider its decision to deny an expansion project, the company announced Wednesday.  

Judge Johnny J. Butler issued an opinion in Commonwealth Court in December concluding the township zoning hearing board had properly denied Slusser Bros.' application for special exception, variances and challenges to the township zoning ordinance.  

Slusser Bros. contends that the company satisfied the legal requirement to show that the expansion is permitted under the zoning ordinance. The company also claims the quarry expansion would protect 150 jobs.  

"We have made a commitment to our employees to keep this quarry operating," said Patrick Bartorillo, general manager of Small Mountain Quarry.  

Zoning board solicitor Richard Hughes said the board was pleased with the court's decision, but he isn't surprised the quarry owners are moving forward with an appeal.  

"We felt that it was appropriate, given the arguments we made," he said of Butler's decision.  

The expansion proposal calls for moving the operation to the south side of Small Mountain Road. Earlier this year, Slusser Bros. presented township supervisors with a redesigned plan to expand the quarry.  

In June 2008, Court of Common Pleas Judge Ann H. Lokuta upheld the July 2007 decision by the township's zoning hearing board to reject the original expansion plans of the 60-acre Small Mountain Quarry onto a 189-acre property on the south side of Small Mountain Road.