Welcome! 

We are pleased to introduce

The Granville Common Sense Coalition

Our Mission: To preserve American tradition in our schools, government and community.

Our Current Issue: Helping increase awareness regarding the two asphalt plants being planned and debated in Alexandria.

The Mayor of Granville spoke at the recent public hearing and we asked permission to share her informative speech. That is reprinted here with her permssion:

My name is Melissa Hartfield, and I am the Mayor of the Village of Granville. I come
tonight on behalf of the Granville Village Council, our residents, our Denison
population and for all those that enjoy clean healthy water from our water distribution
system.

First, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to comment to the Ohio EPA, I am
aware you are not required to hold this hearing and we thank you for listening to our
concerns.

Probably like many people in the audience tonight, I too have distant roots to St.
Albans township through a great, great, great grandfather named William James
Wright who came to this area in 1840 from New York and lived out his life here as a
Master Carpenter until his death in 1883. Their family burial plot resides in the
Maple Grove Cemetery downtown in Alexandria. The decision you make on this
asphalt plant has deep reaching generational impacts on many families.

I understand that Ohio EPA is only considering the air permit at this hearing,
however there are many other factors which should and must be considered when
evaluating the appropriateness of this location, the heavy manufacturing use and its
approval. I have previously provided to Ohio EPA a written letter in opposition to the
proposed Shelly asphalt plant, however I would like to place the following concerns
on the record and request Ohio EPA provide written responses regarding how these
concerns will be adequately addressed.

From an air perspective, asphalt plants are by nature dirty operations. Even under
controlled conditions, they release chemicals into the air such as arsenic, benzene,
formaldehyde, and cadmium – all cancer-causing pollutants. Materials entering and
exiting the site are less controlled, carrying these chemicals, volatile organic
compounds, and fine condensed particulates. Instead of providing the general
response that the permits and applicable regulations are protective of human health
and the environment, I ask for specifics on how Ohio EPA will ensure that the
asphalt permit will continue to comply with permit requirements, especially given that
Ohio EPA compliance inspection occur only every couple of years. While the permit
notes that the asphalt permit is not permitted to create a nuisance, how will the Ohio
EPA determine compliance with this requirement if no odor levels or noise levels
restrictions are included within the permit?

If this permit is approved, as well as the mobile plant at the Martin Trucking location
you will essentially be bookending the entire Village of Alexandria with pollution,
whether that be air or water. Imagine if someone suggested we bookend the central
business area and downtown of New Albany with two asphalt plants? No one would
stand for that scenario. As you may hear tonight, people are not opposed to an
Asphalt plant, but opposed to one at this location due to the potential damaging
impacts. Perhaps Intel could locate this plant on a portion of their development
while buildout is occurring.

From a groundwater perspective, the location of this plant is extremely misguided for
three key reasons.
1) Raccoon Creek, a critical regional tributary runs the entire length of the property.
The Raccoon Creek also acts to recharge our aquifer.
2) The site sits right over top of an abundant clean aquifer that supplies both
municipal and private wells for a huge swath of the County.
3) The vast majority of the property is in a flood plain that is often stressed in recent
years due to changing environmental conditions. Flood waters will carry additional
contaminants into our waterway. Contamination of any one of these geographic
aspects alone could cause significant harm to future generations. The three taken
together exponentially increase this harm to our quality of life to unimaginable levels,
and you must consider them all as they are inextricably linked. It is my
understanding that these issues have not yet been addressed through the permitting
process of a NPDES permit. These issues should be addressed concurrently with
the air pollution permit. Given that the stormwater permit is not being issued
concurrently with the air permit, we request Ohio EPA issue the NPDES stormwater
permit draft, allowing public comment given the concern.

Additionally, related to the concern associated with the asphalt plant’s floodplain
location, it is our understanding that the Licking County Planning Commission has
an outstanding notice of violation that was issued to the property owner of the
proposed site. The notice of violation indicates violations of the Flood Damage
Prevention Regulations due to the manipulation of the property’s ground elevation,
creating a rise in the floodway and flood fringe. First, this confirms that the property
is prone to flooding, requiring the property owner to attempt to elevate the ground
level to make it acceptable for industrial use. Given Licking County Planning
Commission has indicated that no further development can occur at the site until
these violations are resolved, we cannot support nor understand why Ohio EPA
would issue permits for a source that is prohibited from being built due to
noncompliance with related governmental requirements. Please provide clarification
on how this violation and prohibition on building interplays with the existing and
future NPDES permits at the site, as well as the draft air permit for the asphalt plant.

We also have concern not only for the human residents that will be negatively
impacted by the operation of the asphalt plant, but also the local wildlife that call this
area home. For instance, there are Bald Eagles who nest in close proximity to the
proposed asphalt plant location. Our understanding is that there are regulatory
restrictions on activities that may impact such nest sites. We continue to be
concerned that these proposed activities that will include additional light and noise
pollution will negatively impact the Bald Eagles and other migratory birds that use
the riparian zone as their nesting site. While we understand Ohio EPA believes this
concern to also be outside its jurisdiction, we request Ohio EPA coordinate with the
appropriate entities to ensure the proposed activities do not violate any other state or
federal requirements associated with wildlife protection.

While separate from the air pollution process, but parallel, I would like to express our
continued concern regarding the pending zoning conditional permit request. We
would like to remind Ohio EPA, the Shelly Co. as well as citizens that the current
zoning designation does not support the request to locate an asphalt plant at this
location without a conditional use permit. While I understand Ohio EPA will state
that the zoning concern is outside its jurisdiction to address, we believe Ohio EPA
should at a minimum coordinate with local governments to ensure that the
permission granted to install such industrial activities does not violate existing zoning
regulations.

These comments should not be misconstrued as anti-development. The Village of
Granville is sober to the realities of the coming growth in the area, and we embrace
the opportunities it brings. I have been a member of the leadership team of a group
called Framework which includes Townships, Villages and Cities along the 161
corridor which will be impacted by the Intel development. This group has come
together due to the generosity of the TJ Evans Foundation as well as other business
partners in the County. The group has met judiciously for the last year on a monthly
basis, hired a well-respected Planning firm and done extensive outreach to residents
of the County for priorities on planning and vision for the future. The research has
uncovered that conservation of wetlands, flood plains, and environmentally sensitive
areas is one of the top priorities of the group as well as the County residents. This
proposal is completely opposite of any consideration to protecting the environment.
This is a question about responsible development. These are big decisions. We all,
as community leaders, are charged with ensuring such decisions consider the
generational effects they may have.

Residents of this community and all communities have the right to clean air and
water, it is a basic right and when lost can destroy lives, properties, communities,
health, and food for generations. Those losses can never be repaid, or fully
restored. You can only poison your water supply one time. The Village of Granville
and our surrounding friends in Alexandria and St. Albans Township have no interest
in becoming a superfund site and we respectfully ask you to deny this proposal at
this location. There simply has to be a better location, and it is Shelly Company’s
responsibility to find that location. And finally, The Village of Granville intends to
aggressively oppose this proposal at every step through every process and protect
our air and water as well as our way of life. Progress is no longer successful or
beneficial when you damage the land, air and water for your residents. Thank you.

 

What’s Next?

We are looking for conservative candidates for Village Council, Township Trustee and GEVSD School Board.

We’re just getting started, and as a grass roots group of local citizens, we’re still figuring it out. If you have questions, comments, suggestions, or would like to join our email list, email us at info@GCSCoalition.com  

If you’d like to support us, consider making a donation or getting involved.

If you’d like to make a donation online, click the button below:

If you prefer to mail a check, send to:
Granville Common Sense Coalition
PO Box 49
Granville OH  43023

 

Paid for by The Granville Common Sense Coalition.

The Granville Common Sense Coalition is made up entirely of Granville residents who are voters and taxpayers. To contact our leadership team, email info@GCSCoalition.com