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Roseville Review � Laying dow�ie war over asphalt ^ Page 1 of 1
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<br />Laying down the war over asphalt
<br />Cody Zustiak
<br />Review staff
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<br />If an asphalt plant is coming to Roseville, it will have to wait.
<br />The Friends of Twin Lakes filed a citizens' petition to the Minnesota Environmental Review Program for furiher review
<br />� regarding building an asphalt plant at 2280 Walnut St.
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<br />, '�_-•� Kent Peterson, president of Bituminous Roadways Inc., originally sent an application to Pat Trudgeon, community
<br />development director for Roseville, on March 6.
<br />The Roseville City Council tabled consideration for a decision on approving a conditional use permit for the storage of old
<br />� _,� ,����;�,,� asphalt and heavy equipment on June 15. Approval of that permit would have meant an asphalt plant would be built, but the
<br />petition was filed before a decision could be made.
<br />pholos by Cody Zustiak/Review
<br />Tlicre's already a lieavy ��We believe that there is much potentiai environmental damage: ground, water, air and noise," Joy Anderson said, Friends of
<br />Twin Lakes president. "We would like these issues to be studied and mitigations or alterations put in place to safeguard
<br />amount of consu uction along health and safety of the environment and the residents of Roseville."
<br />Walnut Strcet off fndustrial
<br />[3oulevard. An asphalt plant The opposition to the asphalt plant states that there are no studies available regarding the long-term risks and benefits of
<br />could bc built across the street Warm mix asphalt manufacturing.
<br />Gom this at 2280 Walnut St.> gut Peterson said that warm mix asphalt mixes at temperatures 35 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than hot mix asphalt
<br />���liich is currently part used manufacturing. That saves fuel consumption and energy use and is more eco-friendly.
<br />for scmi-trailer parking and the
<br />� remainder is vacant. "The asphalt plant will be a brand new manufactured plant utilizi�g the latest emission control technology available, which
<br />allows the plant to meet and exceed air quality requirements," Peterson said in a letter to Trudgeon.
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<br />Although Peterson said the plant will have the latest air-quality control, Roseville City Council Member Amy Ihlan believes the
<br />risks outweigh the rewards.
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<br />�� ��,�, ' �-�� "Even once the effects are studied, Roseville should not put a plant in the city."
<br />�' ��'�' � Ihlan cited concems about air pollution, toxic fumes, smells, noise, dust and traffic issues that the plant could bring. She also
<br />- �'��t �� worries about nearby schools, residential areas, golf courses and the Rosedale shopping center.
<br />On June 29, the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board assigned the Minnesota Pollution Agency to review the pe(ition and
<br />determine the need for an Environmental Assessment Worksheet.
<br />That means a decision can't be made by the council until results come back. An exact date is uncertain at this point.
<br />Although Ihlan and others worry about the location of the plant, it will be built in an industrialized area where some businesses are excited about the prospect of
<br />it moving next door.
<br />"We feel that they (Bituminous Roadways) are an excellent fit to the Roseville Industrial Park and welcome them as a neighbor," said Meritex Chief Investment
<br />Officer Daniel Williams in a letter to Trudgeon.
<br />"The site they have chosen is an excellent location for not only the city of Roseville's present and future needs for very competitively priced and nearby roadway
<br />surfacing materials, but, also for the general area," wrote John Gohmann, Minnesota Commercial Railway president.
<br />While neighboring businesses feel the plant would be good for Roseville's growth, Ihlan isn't so sure.
<br />"When you think about the vision of Roseville's future, this wouldn't be a good fit," she said. "Other cities have tried getting rid of them (asphalt plants). Why on
<br />earth would Roseville be looking at putting one so close to so many?"
<br />But with a decision on hold, Ihlan is glad people are becoming aware of an issue that can affect Roseville, because word did not, and has not, gotten ouc to
<br />residents
<br />"Our city government's effort to slip this approval 'under the radar' without fully notifying the entire area or making any attempt at environmental review to protect
<br />the health and safety of the residents and the environment is unconscionable;' Tam McGehee, a member of Friends of Twin Lakes, said.
<br />"The least we can do is let everyone know so everyone can be heard," Ihlan added.
<br />Cody Zustiak can be reached at staliwriter@lillienews.com or 651-748-7824
<br />Conlent � ?009
<br />So(n+�are� 1996-'_0097up! So(tware, All Righcs Reserved
<br />http:/hv�v�v.rosevillereview.com/print.asp?ArticleID=4011 &SectionID=1 &SubSectionID=1 7/ 10/2009
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