Note: The following is not a verbatim transcript of the Zoning Hearing Board meeting; it is simply one person’s summary of the major points made by those involved in the hearing process.  For that reason, quotation marks are not used unless a direct quote was recorded.  For information about obtaining an official ZHB transcript, contact the New Hanover Township office.

The meeting began with Mr. Dave Davis, attorney for the Paradise Watchdogs cross-examining of Mr. Uday M. Patankar, formerly independent consultant turned Silvi Vice-President.

Davis asked Patankar who his employee is. After some thought Patankar said it was CDI. Davis asked him what CDI is. He replied that it is Constructural Dynamics, Inc. a Silvi shell company.  Davis quizzed him on the support facilities on the lot. 

Mr. Bob Brant, attorney for New Hanover Township was next.  Brant asked about the latest land purchases. Patankar said two properties: Santangelo and Vento.

Next Mr. F. Recchuiti, an attorney representing a local citizen cross-examined Patankar.  Recchuiti asked about the water that was shown on their maps, which go under the berm. He asked what material the berm and tunnel would be made of.  Patankar said the berm would be dirt, but the tunnel hasn’t been planned. Recchuiti asked him how far water would travel after it left the tunnel. He said 300 yards, where it would run off into a 20 foot wide ditch, go under Big Road, and be deposited into the stream---eventually running into Ministers Creek.

Recchuiti asked if anything from the crusher and screener would be a part of this run off or if a filtration system would be available. Patankar said there would not be filtration.

The next attorney was Lawrence Sager, of Sager & Sager Associates, Pottstown, PA. Mr. Sager represents Louis Farrell of Atomic International, a company that borders the proposed site. Sager asked if a “Jurisdictional Determination” had been established.  A jurisdictional determination is done by the Army Corp. of Engineers and verifies that wetlands exist on a given property. Patankar said there was both wetlands and a 100 year flood plain on the property.  Sager asked if they had applied to DEP for permits. Patankar said they had applied in March. [Doing a search on the PA DEP Web site using the term “Gibraltar Rock” (no quotes) will show you the permits that have been applied for. When Sager asked if GRI would change the wetlands or floodplain he said no. Patankar said that water would be discharged into the ditch. Sager asked if there would be an effect on the flood plain and he said there would.

Sager asked if there were notices about the DEP application. Patankar said they had put them in the Pottstown Mercury for four weeks (every Monday). The public has the opportunity to voice their opinion in writing to the DEP.  

Next John Silvi, owner of Gibraltar Rock testified. Mr. Harris asked him to explain his companies. To the best of my ability here’s what he said:

Next Silvi, (making sure to wear his “yellow lapel ribbon” to show us all that he’s a “true American,”) talked about his youth in the sand mounds of Tullytown, PA.  We all really care that Silvi loves sand.

Harris asked him about the properties that he has purchased. Silvi told him (sorry about any misspelled names) that he purchased:

Marinari – Approx. 163 acres
Schwartz – 1 acre
Fugo – 16 acres
Latshaw – 33 acres
Vento – 9 acres
Santangelo – 13 acres

He said about 242 acres.

Silvi said the medical waste facility that had been on the land was no longer there and that the permit was not renewed.

Mr. Dave Davis, attorney for the Paradise Watchdogs cross-examined Silvi.

Davis asked him the three principle uses of the land and whether Silvi operates any others. Silvi said quarry, no; hot-mix asphalt, no; ready-mix, yes---6 existing in PA.

Davis quizzed Silvi on the number of truck trips he projects. Silvi’s paperwork says 4,588 trips per year for the stone trucks. Davis got him to admit that that’s really 9,176 trips (in and out). All of Silvi’s numbers must be doubled to account for the real number of trips.

Davis line of questions ranged from asking him when the quickest he could be operational to if he was willing to provide concessions. Silvi said no.

The meeting ended.

See Also:
Summary of the previous Gibraltar II meeting (March 19, 2003)