Connie Roberts doesn't stand alone in a fight against a proposal to build a gravel pit near the mouth of American Fork Canyon.
"I just want you to say no, no, no way," said a soft-spoken Roberts to City Council members, drawing thunderous applause from about 100 people packed into Highland's City Hall Tuesday.Residents concerned about heavy traffic, air quality and real-estate values are poised to wage war against California-based Granite Construction, which has asked for a permit to operate a gravel pit on a 50-acre lot near residential areas and schools.
Mayor Jess Adamson said no permit has been issued to the company by the city. Negotiations now are under way to determine what kind, if any, permit would be granted, he said.
More than 700 residents in the Alpine School District have signed petitions against granting the conditional-use permit to the construction company, said Melissa Bowen, president of a PTA council representing schools in Highland, American Fork, Alpine and Cedar Hills.
"This would create serious safety hazards," Bowen said, adding that the majority of the some 5,000 children and teenagers attending school in the area either walk, are bused or drive on the east-west corridor leading to the proposed plant to get to classes.
Bowen's group claims 170 large trucks would travel city streets during the slower seasons of such a gravel pit. During other parts of the year, Bowen said, the rate of trucks would nearly triple, creating a dangerous environment for children in the area.
"We work with children every day," she said. "We know you cannot control playfulness and sometimes carelessness."
Company officials approached Highland leaders earlier this year for permission even though the land technically no longer is part of the city, said City Administrator John Newman.
Nearly 10 years ago, construction company Gibbons and Reed, which was recently purchased by Granite, sued Highland City to de-annex the land from the city to build a plant.
The Utah Supreme Court ruled the company had the legal right to pull out of the city to build the plant under county regulations. But the maps were never changed and some paperwork wasn't filed, raising questions about the jurisdiction of the land, which is zoned to allow such heavy-production usage.
Some also speculate the company believed Highland's approval process would be quicker than the county commission or board of adjustments, which will ultimately hear the case if Highland decides not to negotiate or time allotted by the city and the company to reach an accord runs out on March 30.
City leaders worry, however, about establishing controls on the gravel pit.
If the city halts negotiations, then it also gives up a chance to restrict what the company can do on the land. The panel of adjustments also has the power to grant a permit.
A panel may not require the company to restrict the number of trucks traveling to and from the pit or how many hours workers are allowed on the site, said Councilwoman Jan Bunce.
"It's a question of control," Adamson said.
Resident Mike Long said it is worth a gamble. Either way, the city faces having the third gravel pit in the county in Highland, he said.
"Our big contention is that we haven't done much to prevent it," Long said. "These guys do not get paid to be nice. They are going to do it any way they can."
Long said Utah County officials will not categorically approve a request to build a gravel pit within the county limits. Several restrictions, including how great of a nuisance it will be to residents, will be pondered, he said.
It will take a public outcry from Highland city leaders, residents and neighboring cities to convince the county's panel that a gravel pit is not wanted in the community, he said.
A group of citizens volunteered to help Councilwoman Teri Jerman compile information about the county's zoning regulations and reasons the permit should be denied.
"Gravel pits are not good neighbors. They were never good neighbors," he said. "They are interested in the dollar not in the quality of life here."
"We're willing to go to the county and fight," Roberts said to the council, urging the five-member panel to halt negotiations for the permit with the company. "We are willing to fight alongside you."