Industrial, residential uses shouldn’t mix

To the editor:

In regards to a proposed gravel extraction, rock crushing, asphalt producing facility on Sullivan Road; such facilities are destructive to the health, peace of mind and economic circumstances for all the residents within a mile or more. No such facility should ever be located in a residential neighborhood, or within a mile of a school.

Such a facility reduces the property values and, therefore, tax revenues obtained, while exponentially raising road repair and maintenance costs not recouped from the commercial interest. Gravel extraction, rock crushing and asphalt producing plants are health hazards for the community, and in particular for any persons with allergies, asthma, chronic bronchitis, COPD, cardiac or kidney disease and will increase costs to the borough for emergency medical expenditures for respiratory, cardiac, and seizure emergencies while reducing tax revenues.

Please encourage location of such facilities where there are no residential neighborhoods or schools located. This particular facility also poses a problem to wells and safe drinking water in the area due to a very high and fluctuating water table as well as proximity to Bodenburg Creek.

Prolonged exposure to noise above 85 decibels (which would be associated with rock crushing and large trucks and heavy equipment operation) is destructive to hearing. Hearing impairment is a very destructive and disabling condition and also expensive for taxpayers.

Margaret Runser

Palmer