Twenty-five years ago, the Coulter family made their home in the wide open spaces of southern Owasso. Today they are fearful a zoning exception to what is currently zoned agricultural, could put mining right in their front yard. Anchor stone is asking for a set back that could be as close as 100 feet from their property.
Anchor Stone, which has operates east of their property, located at the northwest corner of East 66th Street North and 145th East Avenue are attempting to expand. In 2003 their attempt to expand was denied. The TULSA COUNTY BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT has set a hearing for the matter on October 20, 2015.
Though under Tulsa County jurisdiction, the Owasso Economic Development Authority unanimously voted against the exception that city staff proposed on October 8, citing the potential impact on residents homes and their quality of life. The Owasso City Council voted 4-0 in favor of supporting the resolution at their October 6 meeting.
Other area cities are pushing for the expansion to go through, wanting Owasso to support the exception to allow mining.
Proposed Property Exception
The Tulsa Board of Adjustment letter shows the Special Exception to permit a quarry, principally limestone, (Use Unit 24 – Mining and Mineral Processing) shall be subject to the following conditions:
- The proposed quarry consists of 47 acres of the 99 acres owned by the Cummings families.
- The proposed quarry is an extension of Anchor Stone’s existing active quarry which is located immediately east of the Cummings property
- The open excavation area of the quarry shall be setback not less than 100 feet from adjoining residential properties, provided however, additional setbacks may
be required, depending on the depth of excavation, in accordance with the standards and requirements of the Oklahoma Department of Mines. - Chain link security fencing shall be installed and maintained along the perimeter of the site where adjoining residential properties.
- An earthen berm not less than 4 feet in height shall be installed and maintained where residential properties adjoin the 47 acres of the quarry.
- A dust suppressant system shall be included within the Cummings property to suppress the dust.
- Within the existing Anchor Stone quarry, a dust suppressant system is included.
- Crusher equipment, including conveyors, and crusher requirements and work shall be maintained within the existing quarry and will not be included within the Cummings property.
- Operation of the joint quarry shall meet the requirements of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, including but not limited to compliance
with the general requirements that: “no visible dust shall leave the property”. - Blasting shall be limited to daylight hours on Monday through Friday, shall include seismic monitoring and shall be conducted in accordance with the
standards and requirements of the Oklahoma Department of Mines. - Provision for reclamation shall be made in accordance with the standards and requirements of the Oklahoma Department of Mines.
You can read the entire resolution here: CBOA-2550
