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Sparta council denies Aal Toll’s special land use after residents cite fire, permit concerns
Summary
After extensive public comment about a recent fire and undisclosed chemical operations, the Village of Sparta Council unanimously denied Aal Toll LLC’s special land use application for chemical mixing and storage at 200 Maple St, citing setback and unmet requirements.
The Village of Sparta Council unanimously denied Aal Toll LLC’s request for a special land use permit to perform chemical mixing and storage at 200 Maple Street, citing safety, permitting and setback deficiencies raised by council members and residents.
At the Aug. 12 meeting, residents told the council the company commenced operations without the required permits and without an operational fire suppression system, concerns amplified after a recent fire at the site. "If the fire hadn’t occurred, the Village might still be unaware of any problems with this business’ operations," resident Robert Barber said during public comment. Multiple speakers described health and environmental worries, including potential effects on aquatic life and worries about a black cloud of smoke that forced at least one family to relocate the night of the fire.
Representatives for Aal Toll, including Joel Walcott and Terry Brant, read a statement and answered Council questions, saying the company has taken remedial steps and apologizing for the "overstep." Walcott said the company believes it has fulfilled the requirements for the permit and explained that any cleaning wastes would be stored and hauled for disposal by another firm.
Council members expressed skepticism. President Robert Whalen and Council Member Robert Carlstrom said the business began operations without proper permits and without an operating fire suppression system, and noted the business owner did not attend the meeting. Carlstrom said Aal Toll failed to engage the public after the fire and that the Village first heard from the company at the Planning Commission hearing the prior week. Council members also asked about waste streams and how they would be handled; Aal Toll representatives said they do not produce "waste products" in normal operations but that cleaning residues would be managed by a third party.
Planning Commission members split on a recommendation at their Aug. 5 public hearing; the Planning Commission took no recommendation forward because motions ended in tie votes. Jim Lower, the Village Manager, told the Council that the final decision rests with Council.
Council Member Brenda Braybrook moved to deny the special land use, and Robert Carlstrom seconded. The motion cited a failure to meet the 100-foot setback requirement and specified requirements 3, 4 and 5 as unmet. The motion passed unanimously.
Council Member Carlstrom noted the denial applied only to this specific application and did not bar Aal Toll from submitting another request in the future. The meeting adjourned at 8:31 p.m.
Next steps: Aal Toll may revise and resubmit an application; any future filing will again require public notice to property owners within 300 feet and Council review.
