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Highland hears hours of public comment as town debates zoning change tied to proposed concrete plant
Summary
Hundreds of residents and several speakers urged the Highland Town Board to tighten definitions in the zoning code or leave project review to the planning board as a proposed concrete batching plant and related zoning amendments drew questions about traffic, water use, air quality and long-term land use.
The Highland Town Board on Tuesday heard extended public comment on a proposed amendment to the town zoning code and a contentious application for a concrete batching plant along the Route 9W corridor.
Residents who live near the proposed site told the board they are worried about heavy-truck traffic, dust and noise, potential impacts on drinking water and the long-term effect on property values. "I hope that you all think that that environmental study will decide how this project continues," said Sean Kelly, who told the board a proposed water use could be close to his property. Several speakers urged the board to leave detailed project review to the planning board and to require full environmental review.
Others emphasized economic benefits. "I think you really do need to consider the taxes that they will bring in, jobs — these are not low-paying jobs," said Robert Lamar Jr., who spoke in support of having a local concrete plant to reduce hauling costs and generate revenue.
The developer’s representative invited board members to inspect modern facilities and described prior steps taken with the building department and consultants. "We welcome that opportunity in front of the planning board to have these concerned areas addressed," said Luke, the developer representative, adding the company hired traffic and other consultants and is open to mitigation measures.
The applicant’s attorney, DJ Ruain, urged the town board not to use the local-law process to block an application that is already pending: "The planning board is the right forum to ask the right questions and hire appropriate consultants," Ruain said, noting the planning board would be able to require environmental study and that the applicant will help pay for needed consultants.
Several residents and commenters asked why the town is proposing a new or clarified definition of "heavy industry" in section 100.38 of the code and whether the current light-industrial zoning already excludes batching plants in the walkway-gateway district. "Common sense is that it is in the heavy zoning," said Juliana Ruiz, who urged the board to align definitions with neighboring municipalities before approving changes.
The board took procedural action at the end of the meeting: it voted to extend the public hearing on Local Law 8 (the zoning-code amendments) and tabled sections F and G of the proposed changes for further consideration. The transcript does not record a complete roll-call tally for those votes; multiple board members voiced support while at least one member expressed opposition during the vote process.
What’s next: the planning board will continue to receive materials on the project; residents were repeatedly encouraged to submit written comments and attend planning-board hearings. The planning board — not the town board — will conduct any required environmental review and consider technical studies (traffic, groundwater, air/dust control) before deciding whether to permit a concrete-batching operation at the site.
Reporting note: The article quotes residents, a developer representative and an attorney who spoke at the board meeting. Where residents cited numeric estimates (for example, water use), those were presented as the resident’s estimate during public comment and are not independently verified here.
