Planning and zoning commissioners on Tuesday conditionally endorsed plans to relocate Lafarge North America’s sand and gravel processing operations.
Company representatives said they intend to erect an overhead conveyor system linking the current operation on 114 acres north of Mound Road with the 63 acres south of Mound Road, which will be the site of the new processing operation. The property is leased from the Benjamin A. Bennitt Trust.
Lafarge representatives said the enclosed conveyor would sharply reduce the number of company trucks–estimated at 750 a day–hauling minerals, gravel and soil across Mound Road.
Planning and zoning commissioners reserved Will County’s right to inspect an inactive 45-acre landfill on part of the southern site to make sure the landfill “cap” is undisturbed by quarry processing operations.
They also stipulated Lafarge representatives are not to disturb the landfill’s discharge pipe without county approval. Additionally, the commissioners stipulated the county also has the right to take samples from the pipe.
Although more than 200 people live within a mile of the southern site, no one objected to the plan at the Tuesday night meeting.
Planning and zoning commissioners unanimously approved property-line and front-yard setbacks for the property. The recommendations will be forwarded to the Will County Board, which has authority to approve or deny.
Lafarge recently acquired the quarry from the family-owned Joliet Sand & Gravel Co.
