February 23, 2015
DEC approves Suit-Kote mining plans
CORTLANDVILLE — After seven years of waiting, the state Department of Environmental Conservation has approved plans for the Suit-Kote Corp. asphalt company to dig a new gravel mine, but the project still has to be approved at the local level.
The Cortlandville Town Board has received a request from the asphalt company to rezone roughly 90 acres of old farmland it purchased near its existing mine along Route 13 in the hamlet of Polkville.
The proposal will be reviewed by the Town Planning Board on Tuesdaybefore being sent to the county Planning Board for its review.
The county and town planning boards will make recommendations as to how to proceed with the project and the proposed zoning changes, but the Town Board will ultimately have the final word.
Suit-Kote is looking to rezone the land from agricultural to industrial, which would be required for mining operations.
During its regular meeting on Wednesday, the Town Board named itself lead agency for the state environmental quality review, or SEQR process, work necessary to get the project approved in the town.
Town Supervisor Dick Tupper said Thursday it has been seven years since Suit-Kote proposed digging the mine.
“The DEC finally in October of last year said they had a completed application, and they approved a modified permit,” Tupper said. “That came through Dec. 22.”
Suit-Kote spokesman Brian Renna said Friday the company’s current aggregate mines are reaching the end of an approximate 30-year life expectancy, so the project is necessary to keep up with the need to maintain infrastructure.
“There’s a lot of demand for these types of products,” Renna said. “Every road that you drive is made up of asphalt and rock. In order to continue to address the infrastructure, you have to mine aggregate out of the ground.”
Tupper said while everyone expected DEC approval would take a while, the town is pleased the project is moving forward.
“We knew that it was coming eventually, but I’m shocked it took them (the DEC) seven full years,” Tupper said. “They went through everything. We do a SEQR, but it’s not like what you have to do for mining. That SEQR is huge, so we’re glad the state finally approved it.”
Renna said now that the state has finished reviewing the company’s proposal, the company is prepared to address any questions related to the project.
The proposal is expected to come before the town Planning Board during its next meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
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