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. Stephen Harris, attorney for Gibraltar Rock began by continuing Mr. Alan K. Stagg testimony as an expert witness on “Economic Geology” in GR1.  

Since the last zoning board meeting Stagg had conducted an economic assessment of the HI area North of Hoffmansville Rd. and didn't believe that it, by itself have enough to be economically viable.

Mr. Lawrence Sager, (representing Louis Farrell of Atomic International) asked Stagg asked if the adjoining property, which contains outdated oil containment structures, is an environmental hazard. Stagg said he had only anecdotal evidence and had no hard evidence.

Sager then began asking questions about GRI owner's Silvi’s hidden wealth in this so-called unprofitable venture.  He tried suggesting that Silvi would not have to pay a sales tax on purchased stone by supplying his own stone.  That worked until after the break when Stagg reminded the good attorney that there is no sales tax in this circumstance.  Next Sager suggested that Silvi was making more money than admitted by operating a vertical business with no transportation cost for stone used in ready-mix and in asphalt.  Harris made two responses.  He offered to do some calculations on the transportation cost for hauling stone from GRI to Silvi’s operations in Limerick and Downingtown.  This data will be factored into an argument that will also use the cost of transportation from Highway Materials, the closest quarry with similar quality rock.  Then Harris objected to this whole line of argument saying it was not relevant.  At issue is the zoning provision for viable operations of a quarry, not the viable operation of an industrial complex that includes concrete and asphalt.  Sager just shook his head while Harris rattled off some relevant court decisions.

Sager’s next move was to question the validity of Stagg’s methodology.  He noted, for example, that Stag did his modeling without regard for inflation and without regard for the effect of supply and demand.  Stagg did not take into consideration certain other influences on the price of stone such as changes is technology, availability and competition.

In the end Stagg contends that mining the HI district North of Hoffmansville Rd. is a big loser.  If Sager had a couple more hours he probably would show that this little rock pit was the road to wealth and fortune. 

So stay tuned, but don’t expect great things on June 16^th.