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Planning board tables O’Brien Ready Mix CUP after hours, water and runoff concerns
Summary
Residents near the proposed O’Brien Ready Mix facility urged denial on health, traffic and watershed grounds; the applicant asked for time to respond and the board tabled the request to the October meeting.
The Washington County Planning Board tabled a conditional use permit request from O’Brien Ready Mix on Sept. 25 after dozens of nearby residents voiced safety, noise, water and environmental concerns.
The applicant proposed a high‑intensity ready‑mix concrete facility on a 7.42‑acre property, with operations beginning as early as 5:30 a.m., ten full‑time employees and multiple daily concrete truck trips. Planning staff reported 91 mailed notices, 51 complaints citing noise, environmental and compatibility concerns, and 93 letters of support citing improved local concrete availability and economic benefits.
Why this matters: Speakers said the site sits near private wells, Bob Kidd Lake and community resources, and argued that concrete plants produce dust, alkaline wastewater with high pH and heavy metals, and continuous truck traffic that would worsen a stretch of U.S. 62 where residents reported crashes. Several commenters referenced medical and ecological studies they said show long‑term health risks from particulate and silica exposure.
What the applicant said: Jake Chavis of Odyssey Engineering, representing O’Brien Rock Company, told the board the company wanted to hear public concerns, would take them into account, and asked for the item to be tabled. The applicant said they would return with adjustments but did not provide additional numerical projections or an emissions study at the meeting.
Board action: After public comment that lasted more than an hour, a member moved to table the application; the motion passed.
What residents asked for: Multiple residents requested independent air and water testing, plans for wastewater handling and concrete washout containment, and a traffic study at the 412/plant entrance. Commenters also requested review of hours of operation and evidence showing the applicant’s compliance history at other facilities.
Regulatory context: Planning staff said that if the CUP proceeded, state agencies including the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality and Arkansas Department of Health would be involved in permits for stormwater, concrete washouts and other environmental safeguards. Staff noted the large‑scale engineering review would address stormwater detention design, and ADOT issued a driveway permit for the project entrance.
Ending: The board did not vote to approve or deny the CUP; it postponed the decision to allow the applicant to respond to the community’s technical and operational questions and to provide further documentation.
