Vineland council adopts resolution opposing Dunright Sand & Gravel recycling permit after company asks for chance to present

Vineland City Council voted 4-0 on April 22 to adopt Resolution 2025-207, a formal statement opposing approval of a Class B and/or Class C recycling permit for Dunright Sand and Gravel to operate at 3765 Mays Landing Road in the W-6 Woodlands zone.

The matter was raised during the public-comment period by company representatives who asked the council to delay or carry the resolution so the company could present additional information. Steve Fabietti, an attorney with Highland Levin Shapiro in Marlton representing Dunright, said the company had not been given a full opportunity to present and that state law and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regulations govern siting of recycling activities. "Our request tonight is to ... ask for an opportunity to present to you with our full professional team ... the full details of the application before you adopt a resolution or any formal action expressing council's opinion on the application," Fabietti said.

Steve Mayo, operations manager for Dunright and a Vineland resident, told the council the company's facility could provide a city cost savings by accepting yard waste and other materials. "There's a major benefit to this city to have it out there," Mayo said, and asked council to "maybe table this and listen to what we have to say before we do this."

Despite those requests, council later placed Resolution 2025-207 on the floor, called for a roll-call vote and approved the resolution. The roll call shows "yes" votes from Doctor Arthur, Council member Gomez, Council member Vargas and President Spinelli. The resolution record references the company's application before the zoning board of adjustment and states the council's opposition to permit approval for operation at the specified Mays Landing Road address.

The council did not read a detailed staff report into the record during the time the resolution was presented. The attorney for Dunright said the company had provided materials asserting that siting of recycling facilities is governed by state law and DEP regulation and that county and state agencies will have a role in the final decision. Those statements were made as part of public comment and were not treated as formal legal findings by the council.

Action taken: Resolution 2025-207 was adopted according to law, recorded as an expression of the council's opposition to the permit application. The transcript does not show a subsequent direction for staff to delay transmission of the resolution to other agencies or to hold a special presentation by the applicant; it only records the council vote adopting the resolution.

Looking ahead: The transcript shows the zoning application remains pending before the zoning board of adjustment. Dunright representatives asked for an opportunity to present additional materials to council prior to formal action; the council nevertheless adopted the opposition resolution during this meeting.