WAYNE — The township has updated a decades-old ordinance aimed at controlling blasting and dust while ensuring the reclamation of mined land at the only local rock quarry.
The measure, first unveiled in September 1992, sets new rules for the 104-year-old basalt pit owned by Braen Stone Industries. The quarry is on the east side of the township, where it straddles the Haledon border.
Officials revised the ordinance for a year before the Township Council adopted it by a vote of 6-2 at a recent meeting. Council members Francine Ritter and Al Sadowski dissented.
Braen Stone once sued the township to challenge the original ordinance because it forbade digging within 50 feet of neighboring properties, and the company felt that was too restrictive. The parties settled out of court in July 1994, with the buffer zone intact. In exchange, officials surrendered rights to a planned street near the quarry.
Changes to the ordinance now make it easier for the zoning officer to monitor operations there, said Township Planner Christopher Kok. Most updates deal with the process that Braen Stone must follow to renew its license, which expires every three years.
Passaic County: More upheaval in small North Jersey town? Answers scarce as schools chief departs
The company must submit documents showing the location of its mining activities, based on a topographic survey of no more than two years old. It must also detail its method for managing dust and include proof that quarrying has not threatened neighboring properties in the previous licensing period.
The ordinance created a process for the council to grant waivers, and Braen Stone has five years to restore its land for future use after it ceases operations.
The allowable time frame was one year.
Sadowski, who represents the 2nd Ward, which includes the quarry, said he voted against the ordinance because he felt the council should have been more involved in drafting it.
The longtime councilman said he is also opposed to the sheer existence of the quarry, adding that many of his constituents have complained about its mining activities.
Story continues below photo gallery.
“I personally think that the quarry has outlived its useful life in Wayne,” Sadowski said.
Braen Stone said it is committed to the safety and well-being of its neighbors.
“Our dedicated team actively engages with residents to gather feedback and address any concerns, allowing us to make necessary adjustments and foster positive relationships within the community,” said Scott Braen, a fifth-generation owner of the family business.
Last year, for example, the company introduced a way to warn neighbors before blasting occurs. People were urged to call Braen Stone to be on its notification list for text alerts.
Braen said the company has also minimized its impact on area roads by cooperating with independent owners of dump trucks to “promote mindfulness” in neighborhoods.
Philip DeVencentis is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: devencentis@northjersey.com
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Wayne NJ quarry regulations see major changes
Leave a Comment