CECIL COUNTY — The Cecil County Board of Appeals voted late Monday night to table an appeal by York Building Products to mine sand and gravel on a plot of land outside of Perryville, citing concerns over how the mine would transport its product and its impact on road safety on a road with a single-lane underpass.
York’s appeal, which was passed by the Planning Commission in a meeting held last week, asked for a special exception to be granted to conduct mining operations on a parcel of land that had been zoned NAR (Northern Agricultural Residential) with an MEB overlay (Mineral Extraction B).
The property, which is currently owned by York, Pa.-based company Principio Iron Company, L.P., consists of 324 acres west of Charlestown located off Carpenter’s Point Road. York’s appeal asked for a special exemption to conduct mining operations on a 90-acre portion of that property.
At the meeting, dozens of community members who live near the property asked the board to deny York’s proposal on the grounds of safety and what the operation would do to the natural beauty of the area.
“I want my legacy to be that I cared,” said Darlene McCall, who lives on nearby Greenbank Road. “What do you want your legacy to be? That you caved to York?”
Several residents referred to the area as ‘God’s country’ while talking about its natural beauty and their fears that York’s proposed mining operation would destroy the local woodlands, hurt wildlife and damage the nearby Chesapeake Bay. McCall also pointed out that York has been fined many times over the past several years for the environmental damage their facilities have caused.
Residents also expressed their concerns over how the mining operation would affect safety in the area, particularly on Mountain Hill Road.
According to York, the trucks that would transport the mine’s products only travel along the stretch of Mountain Hill Road up to the site’s access road — which would run to the mine and to its processing area on an adjacent property — north to Route 7 and Route 40. This would keep truck traffic off the southern stretch of Mountain Hill Road and Carpenter’s Point Road.
York also stated that the mine will have approximately 87 fully loaded trucks arrive at the site daily.
The problem, according to residents, is a single-lane underpass — which crosses under the Amtrak rails — located on that northern portion of Mountain Hill.
“I use that road, you cannot see until you are almost at that underpass,” said Debby Patton, a resident of Woodall Road. “Someone’s going to get hurt.”
York’s Vice President of Engineering Jame Gawthrop noted that a traffic study that York had ordered found that the one-lane underpass was capable of handling “approximately 400-500 vehicles per hour. This takes into consideration approximately 15% of that traffic being heavy trucks.”
Residents expressed doubts over the figures presented by the traffic study.
“With all these trucks going to the same quarry, using the same road, going through the same underpass, Mountain Hill Road will be completely backed up,” said Morgan Reynolds, who along with friends and family helped prepare the community’s presentation to the board. “It’s not a matter of if someone dies in a car crash there, but when.”
York’s appeal stated that mining operations would not begin for approximately three to five years, as operations would shift from York’s other mines in the area, but would continue for the next 15 to 20 before reclamation efforts would begin.
“You have to mine areas where the minerals are,” said Gawthrop. “Which is why we’re asking for this special exception: because the minerals are there.”
In answer to community concerns, York stated that they would provide a well guarantee for adjacent properties, no explosives would be used, noise levels would remain under the mandated decibel-limits and operations would only run from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Several residents pointed out that York’s proposed 87-trucks-a-day throughout that period would work out to a truck nearly every four minutes of the day.
They also noted that, despite York’s policy that trucks would not be allowed to turn right (southbound) on Mountain Hill Road under threat of being fined or banned, they had little confidence that the policy would keep traffic limited to the intended route.
“What’s going to happen is the trucks are going to start lining up, they’re going to start turning right,” said Sharon Miller of Carpenter’s Point Road. “How do you enforce that fine?”
When considering the appeal, the board focused on the impact that the truck traffic on Mountain Hill Road, as well as the potential for negative environmental effects on the community.
Board Chairman Mark Saunders asked York if the company would be willing to partner with the community to help maintain Mountain Hill Road.
“Yes, we would,” said Gawthrop.
“Do you think quality of life in the surrounding community will be affected?” asked Michael Linkous, board vice-chair.
“I think it’s a benefit to the community,” Gawthrop answered, after a pause.
Other members of the board weighed in on road safety under the proposed plan.
“I really have a problem with that railroad underpass,” said board member Willard Whiteman.
“Cost at some point is difficult, I would hate it to have someone get hurt there,” said board member Brad Carrillo. “I don’t know if there’s a solution for alternate transportation, but the cost of someone getting hurt on that road outweighs anything else I can think of.”
Following a recess to receive legal counsel, Carrillo motioned to table the appeal for up to six months, asking York to provide clarity on their plan to maintain road safety and transport the mined product. The motion was passed unanimously, with the board setting Jan. 16, 2025 as York’s deadline to provide the information.
Prior to the recess, York had asked the board to table the matter for 60 days so they could return with more information about the road and what could be done about it.
York officials said that the company plans to put further study into the underpass and its safety.
“Our intention is to re-look at that, look at alternatives and come back to the board,” said Gawthrop.
Community members who were at the meeting said that they felt heard by the board’s decision.
“I felt like they listened to us and took in our concerns,” said McCall.
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