Forestville residents and advocacy groups urge county scrutiny over proposed Canyon Rock asphalt plant

Residents of Forestville and regional environmental and community groups used the board's public-comment period to oppose a proposed asphalt batch plant at Canyon Rock Quarry, raising ongoing permit compliance concerns, alleged unpermitted grading in areas proposed for the plant, dust and truck traffic impacts through downtown Forestville, and increased fire and public-safety risks from locating an asphalt plant in a forested area.

Speakers and claims

Several residents and community organizations summarized permit Sonoma inspection reports and notices of correction they said show a multi-year pattern of noncompliance by Canyon Rock including: unauthorized grading and clearing outside the reclamation-plan boundary, alleged destruction or filling of riparian areas and potential wetlands along the quarry's western boundary, repeated dust and track-out complaints, and operations conducted outside permitted hours.

Renee Cherkin, speaking for nearby residents, quoted Permit Sonoma's notice of correction: "this clearing and grading appears to be for the purpose of preparing the area for the asphalt batch plant which has not yet been approved by the county," and said the clearing included mature timber without a recorded timber-harvesting plan. Other speakers described seeing dust settle in homes and on vehicles, trucks leaving before permitted start times, and truck…