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.

NOTE:

As of this meeting, Ms. Julie Von Spreckelsen has ended her witnesses for the township's case against Gibraltar Rock.  So, to date, Gibraltar Rock has presented its witnesses and the township has presented its witnesses.  One would assume that the case would then proceed to the zoning board for their decision. However, with this meeting Mr. Harris, attorney for Gibraltar Rock asked that he enter new witness testimony. We assume it is to discredit witness testimony presented over the course of the last year by Ms. Julie Von Spreckelsen.

The meeting began by Harris entering into testimony a number of exhibits that came from GR2 and from Gibraltar Rock's application to the DEP.

Next, Harris brought Mr. Uday Patankar back to the stand.  Patankar, who is an employee of the Silvi Group (the parent company of Gibraltar Rock) testified on all of the great things that GRI would do to help our community.  It was a very weak list indeed.

His first assurance to the community was in the argument that since the DEP has accepted their application that we, the community are protected.  If you've followed this case for the last five years, or the case of the Pottstown Landfill, you may have come to the conclusion, as we have, that DEP has no power, authority, interest, time, or money to really help a community until after a quarry or landfill is in operation. Then, if something is amiss, they have the power to prosecute or fine offenders.  Unfortunately, before the plant or landfill goes live, DEP merely makes sure that the application is written "to the letter of the law." In effect, the DEP makes sure the applicant has written the application correctly---if the applicant makes claims, the DEP accepts them because they have no money to conduct their own analysis.  Tough luck if the applicant turns out to be wrong.

Patankar then presented letters to the zoning board from the chief Pa Historical and Museum Commission, Division of Archeology and Protection.  Again, working with ONLY THE INFORMATION GIVEN HIM FROM GIBRALTAR ROCK, he said (in the letter) that there is no threat to damage to the three historic structures near the proposed quarry.  He was never given the information the township's own witness on historical structures was given. Read Tom Comitta's testimony about historical structures. 

Patankar then talked about slope stability. Slope stability is the stability of the walls of the quarry as you dig down lower and lower.  One of the township's witnesses, Joe Casey. Read his original testimony.

Patankar was coached by Harris to say, time and time again, that Gibraltar Rock will be a good neighbor and our world will be a much better place when the owners of Gibraltar Rock give us the quarry, asphalt plant, and ready mix concrete dust plant we've always wanted when we moved to this rural countryside.  Thanks to all of them for their kindness and interest in our wealth and well-being.

GR 1 will continue on July 7, 2005.

See Also:
Summary of the previous meeting (May 5, 2005)