Updated August 29, 2023 (for the most current information, please scroll to the bottom of this summary)
SUMMARY
- FEB 2021: Stoneco of Michigan, a subsidiary of a large multi-national corporation, submitted an application to mine a 400-acre property that it purchased on both sides of Pleasant Lake Road.
- If operational, the proposed site would be the largest gravel mine in Washtenaw County, and likely, one of the largest in the state.
- The property is currently zoned as agricultural. In order to operate a mine at this site, Sharon Township must grant Stoneco:
- A special land-use permit for mineral extraction (a two-part process), and a mineral extraction license. See the process HERE.
APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL USE PERMIT:
Part 1: Determination of Need
- AUG 2021: The PC held a public hearing on Stoneco’s first application in August 2021. Over 300 residents attended the hearing. Township Officials estimated it was the largest public response to a township issue in recent memory.
- The PC has requested that Stoneco submit additional information. Stoneco submitted the information in late December, 2021.
- JAN 30, 2022: Sharon Preservation Society reviewed the information and sent its comments to the Planning Commission.
- FEB 16, 2022: The PC hired Spicer Group, an independent engineering firm, to review Stoneco’s submission. The firm’s analysis found “The need for a new mining operation has not been sufficiently demonstrated.”
- FEB 28, 2022: The PC held a special meeting to review the new information. Sharon Preservation Society submitted its position on the information.
- MAR 15, 2022: The PC held an additional special meeting as a follow-up to the 28-FEB meeting. It approved a motion that “the applicant has failed to provide evidence of need for the sand and gravel on this property as required under the law, and accordingly a recommendation is made to the township board that it should find that there is no need to extract the sand and gravel from this property.” The meeting was covered by MLive.
- MAR 30, 2022: Stoneco’s attorney wrote a letter to the Board of Trustees urging it NOT to follow the Planning Commission recommendation. For a summary, see April 5 Update. MLive reported on this development.
- JUN 2, 2022: After receiving additional information from Stoneco, and a review of the material by the township’s engineering consultant, the Board of Trustees found that Stoneco had established a “low-to-moderate” need for the material it applied to mine at the Pleasant Lake Road site. Stoneco can now proceed to the next phase of the process – the determination of Very Serious Consequences.
APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL USE PERMIT
Part 2, Determination of Very Serious Consequences
- SEPT 29, 2022: Stoneco submitted its application for a special use permit. In the 850-page application, Stoneco concluded the mine would not result in any very serious consequences. This is expected.
- NOV 2022 – JAN 17, 2023: The township’s attorney, planner and engineer requested additional information from Stoneco to ensure the application included all required information:
Spicer (Township Engineer) review #1 (NOV 10, 2022)
Spicer (Township Engineer) review #2 (DEC 02, 2022)
CWA (Township Planner) review (NOV 18, 2022)
Stoneco response to above (DEC 16, 2022)
CWA summarizing report (JAN 03, 2023)
JAN 17, 2023: The Planning Commission reviewed the information and found the application to be complete. The Planning Commission will begin its formal review process and scheduled a public hearing for February 15, 2023.
FEB 15, 2023: The Planning Commission held a Public Hearing on the Determination of Very Serious Consequences. See summary
JUN 13, 2023: The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend the township deny Stoneco’s Special Land Use permit. See the Motion and Findings of Fact. The recommendation will be reviewed in a special meeting of the Board of Trustees on JULY 17.
JUL 7, 2023: Stoneco sends the Board of Trustees a letter offering conditions it will accept as part of obtaining the Special Land Use Permit.
JUL 7, 2023: Sharon Preservation Society sends the Board of Trustees a memo with its intent to submit more than 400 signatures on its petition. The petition signers encourage the Board of Trustees to “…deny a Special Land Use permit for the proposed mine if it is determined that the mine would create very serious consequences for the township and its residents.”
JUL 17, 2023: At a special meeting, the Sharon Township Board of Trustees voted unanimously to deny a Special Land Use (SLU) Permit. See the motion HERE. During the meeting, Board members referred to the letter sent by Stoneco on July 7. Board members called the offers “too little, too late.”
AUG 29, 2023: Stoneco filed an appeal on August 24 in Washtenaw County Circuit Court seeking to revere Sharon Township’s decision to deny a zoning change permit. The next day it filed a lawsuit claiming the township violated Stoneco’s civil rights.
Who is Stoneco?
Stoneco of Michigan, the applicant for the mine, is a subsidiary of CRH, a multi-national corporation headquartered in Ireland, with $27.6 billion in revenue in 2020. Stoneco currently operates in 18 locations throughout Michigan, including Freedom Township and on Zeeb Road in Washtenaw County.
What do we know about the mining plan?
According to preliminary information submitted by Stoneco, it expects to extract about 1.5million tons of sand and gravel annually over the next 20 years.
An average of 167 loaded trucks per day will leave the site (334 trucks entering and leaving the site during operating hours), traveling to M-52.
An initial site plan shows five wetlands on the mine borders and three monitoring wells – a number deemed insufficient for an operation of this size.
What’s happening now?
See the “Updates” tab for the latest information.
What you can do to voice your concern
Continue to contact the Planning Commission or Board of Trustees. Send a letter or drop it off during offices hours on Thursdays from 9am to noon. Attend township meetings and voice your opinion!
- Stay informed: sign up for updates from the Sharon Preservation Society or contact the Board of Trustees or Planning Commission.
- If you have solid reason to believe you or your property would suffer a potential very serious consequence (road safety, property values, water or air contamination, etc.) document your evidence and inform the township.
- Contact your local, regional and state representatives. They need to hear that this is an important issue that requires their attention!
More Information/Resources
Links to Sharon Township Ordinances:
- Zoning Ordinance (see Section 5-12 for Extraction Operations)
- Code of Ordinances (see Page 43 for Mineral Extraction Licensing Ordinance)
Stoneco’s Determination of Need (April 2021)
Planners review/analysis of application (June 18, 2021)
Stoneco response (August 1, 2021)
Sharon Preservation Society’s comments on Stoneco’s submission on need (January 30, 2022)
Spicer Group Review of Stoneco’s Need Assessment (February 16, 2022)
Sharon Preservation Society’s position paper regarding Stoneco’s Determination of Need
Planning Commission Finding and Motion regarding need (May 15, 2022)
Letter to Sharon Township Board of Trustees from Stoneco Attorney, Mar 30, 2022
Additional information submitted by Stoneco on June 2, 2022 for a Determination of Need
Review of information submitted by Stoneco by Spicer Group, engineering consultant for Sharon Township
Spicer (Township Engineer) Review #1 (NOV 10, 2022)
Spicer (Township Engineer) Review #2 (DEC 02, 2022)
CWA (Township Planner) Review (NOV 18, 2022)
Stoneco Response to review (DEC 16, 2022)
CWA (Township Planner) Summarizing Report (JAN 03, 2023)
Sharon Preservation Society: Response to Stoneco Application for Special Use Permit for 400-acre Mine on Pleasant Lake Road: Determination of Very Serious Consequences
Planning Commission’s Motion and Findings of Fact regarding Stoneco’s SLU application (JUNE 13, 2023)