Symons cone crusher

A proposed concrete crushing operation and rubble site is facing overwhelming opposition from surrounding homeowners.Jeff and Jamie Stickfort, doing business as Stick Brothers, have applied with the city for a special permit. Plans call for developing a rubble fill site on 20 acres of vacant property north of the Cloverdale neighborhood and south of the Omega Cabinets plant on Burton Avenue.

But members of the Waterloo Planning, Programming and Zoning Commission voted 6-0 Tuesday to recommend denying the permit after residents packed City Council chambers and presented petitions of opposition.Part of owning property is enjoying the environment around it commission member Lyn Tackett said. "I do hear what these people are saying."Commissioner Jesse Loveless added I know I wouldn't want it next to my neighborhood.

A portion of the land has been zoned heavy manufacturing district since 1969 and already allows a concrete crushing plant. Stick Brothers is seeking the special permit for a rubble site, which would allow the land to be filled with material unsuitable for recycling through the crushing process.Neighbors lined up at the commission meeting to state opposition to the plan, which included concerns about drainage, traffic and lost property values.

The noise the dirt and the dust you won't be able to open your windows," said Lee Bedore of 836 Cloverdale Ave.It's going to knock everybody's property values down."Don Sullivan, whose back property line abuts the proposed site, said water runoff already gushes through the property.