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.

What is GR 2?

Mr. L. Sager (representing Louis Farrell of Atomic International) continued cross-examination of Ken Amey, "expert land planner" for Gibraltar Rock. For more information on Amey's original GR1 testimony, read the summaries from March 5, 2003, April 2, 2003, and May 15, 2003.

Sager spent most of the next hour asking Amey questions revolving around Amey’s lack of ethics in relation to the professional organization to which he belongs, the American Institute of Certified Planners. Sager kept quizzing Amey regarding what Amey actually knows about the proposed quarry, versus what he took for fact from other Gibraltar witnesses.  

Sager kept asking Amey to show where in others testimony certain information was located. Amey was at a loss to find most of the information. Amey admitted that he didn't look at any other studies or information other than those provided by GRI.  He said he relied on the GRI experts to tell him about well water supply and quality.

Sager quizzed him on the water shed, asking him which watershed the proposed quarry was located in---he had no idea. He couldn't locate specific information about water in GRI's plans.

Note: It was obvious to many of us in the audience that Amey didn't know how to answer many of Sager's questions. But, if you watched him, it was obvious who was cribbing him.  After each question by Sager Amey would look to Harris for confirmation. Often, Harris would nod slightly and occasionally he would make an objection that stated the correct answer Harris expected Amey to answer.  Legal tactics or just plain tactics?

Sager finished his questioning by asking Amey to explain why all of these different tracts of land, zoned HI and LI are not considered to be an industrial park. 

Sager eventually relinquished the questioning to others.

Mr. Roger Buchanan, president of Paradise Watchdogs began questioning Amey. The first three of Buchanan's questions were objected to by Harris.

While Buchanan tried to get Amey to respond to questions about ethics and his responsibility as a land planner, Amey danced around most of his questions.  In summary, Amey agreed with his earlier statements that this quarry would "improve the quality of life in New Hanover Township." And, that it is "in harmony with the community." Basically what he was saying, he explained, is that if it (the quarry) meets the regulations, it is in harmony with the community. 

The next GR 2 meetings are back-to-back February 16 and 17, 2005 at the New Hanover Township Building, 7:00 PM.