Concrete mixing plant draws complaints in Cornwall borough
At the Cornwall Borough Council meeting, several residents voiced their dissatisfaction about a concrete mixing plant recently built on land owned by Cornwall Properties, a division of Byler Holdings LLC. The plant is off of Boyd Street, north of Route 322. The development company had previously planned to build a warehouse at the site, which is zoned "industrial," but it scuttled the plans in response to strong public protest.
Residents said trucks have hauled sand and stones to the site and numerous cement trucks have been seen leaving the plant. Complaints from neighbors about noise coming from the plant at night were received by the borough office last week, so solicitor Joselle Cleary sent a letter to Cornwall Properties Aug. 11, asking the company to limit the time the plant is mixing concrete.
At Monday's meeting, Cornwall resident Jeremy Zimmerman alleged the council the developer neglected to obtain permits it is required to have to operate the plant, and said it should also be providing various reports to the borough. He recommended the borough order the company to cease and desist operations until it obtains the required permits. Council agreed to send its alternate zoning enforcement officer, Joshua Weaber, of Chrisland Engineering, to inspect the cement mixing operation and permits.
Spring Hill Acres
There was also a long discussion at the meeting about the entrance to the Spring Hill Acres development. Council President Bruce Harris explained that a recent multiple vehicle accident at the intersection of Spring Hill Lane and Route 72, resulted in high voltage electrical wires falling across Spring Hill Lane, making it impossible for any vehicles to enter or leave the development.
Fire department personnel assessed the situation and contacted Met-Ed.
The incident caused residents to think about other dangerous situations that could occur at the large forested development if its only access road would be blocked. Council president Bruce Harris, a resident of Spring Hill Acres, said a development with 18-foot-wide streets and only one entrance and exit would not be approved with today's standards. He also noted that the suggestion of building a second entrance road from Route 322 has been rejected by development residents over the years.
The discussion then moved to the difficulty drivers have in going north or south onto Route 72 from Spring Hill Lane during morning and evening traffic rush hours, a topic that has been discussed several times before at council meetings. State Rep. John Schlege was asked if he could be involved with a meeting with PennDOT and local officials to discuss improvements to the intersection. He said he would.
New code officer
In a separate matter, the council voted in favor of designating Jeff Steckbeck to serve as the borough's code enforcement officer, in addition to serving as its zoning officer.
Other council business
∘ The council consented to allowing Arden Snook, owner of the building occupied by the Boyer Tavern, to improve a ten-foot by 170-foot section of the shoulder along Rexmont Road, opposite the tavern, with asphalt paving, if he signed an agreement to maintain the area.
∘ Council thanked volunteers of the Community Fire Company of Cornwall for their plan to grease the threads of hydrant caps in the borough to prevent possible difficulties in using the hydrants when needed.
∘ The resignation of Greg Bender, a 28-year veteran of the Cornwall Borough Police Department, was accepted and approval was granted to hire an additional employee for the public works department.
∘ A resolution was adopted proclaiming 2024 as the "Year of the Arts" in Mount Gretna, which will be the 50th year when the annual Mount Gretna Art Show will be held.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Concrete plant draws complaints in Cornwall Pa. borough
