ABOUT THE PROPOSED QUARRY

For as long as any living person can remember the proposed quarry site has been a productive farm. In fact, the site consists of three tracts of land continuously farmed since Berks County was settled. The proposed site is approximately one mile west of Kutztown and 3/4 of a mile north of Route 222. VIEW MAP.  Additionally, the [former] Berkleigh Country Club (former home of the Betsy King Golf Classic), adjacent to the proposed Eagle Road site, has recently been purchased by Lehigh Cement. Country Club operations ceased in Fall, 2007 with all furnishings, machinery, and memorabilia sold at auction. VIEW MAP

The three properties were purchased by the National Gypsum Company in 1962 after they purchased the Allentown Cement Company (including the Evansville plant). In 1985 Transtech Industries purchased Allentown Cement from National Gypsum, and in 1988 Scancem Industries purchased Allentown Cement from Transtech Industries. Lastly, in 1999 Heidelberg Cement purchased Scancem Industries, and in 2001 Allentown Cement was assimilated into Lehigh Cement Company.

From testimony presented by Lehigh Cement and D.E.P. personnel at Planning Commission and Zoning Hearings beginning in 2006 and continuing through 2007, we now know that at some time in the 1970’s an exploratory quarry hole was opened (approximately 4 acres). We also know a mining permit for a quarry consisting of 8.3 acres was issued by the D.E.P. in 1977, three years after Richmond Township’s current zoning laws were adopted.

During the past 55 years that this property has been owned by four corporations the property has been continuously in agricultural use! In fact, a zoning permit was issued by Richmond Township on August 12, 2003 to erect an agricultural storage building, and a Certificate of Occupancy was issued by the Township on June 29, 2004 upon completion and final inspection.

This property was also placed on Berks County’s Clean and Green Program from 1999 to 2006, resulting in tax savings for Lehigh Cement Company. To the best of our knowledge a commercial operation cannot be conducted on land placed in the Clean and Green Program.

During these past 55 years of Corporate ownership, Richmond Township records confirm that Lehigh Cement or its predecessors never applied for a permit to operate a quarry on Kempsville / Eagle Roads. HAS THIS SITE EVER BEEN AN ACTIVE QUARRY?