The owner of the property on which CLM Pallet Recycling operates in Fortville has withdrawn his request for permission to erect an 83-foot-tall concrete-mixing silo as part of a proposed concrete batch plant.
FORTVILLE — A businessman has called off his proposal for a concrete-mixing plant that’s drawn opposition from nearby residents over the past several weeks.
Tony Matthews, who owns Indianapolis-based M&C Concrete and a company that owns the property on which CLM Pallet Recycling operates at 3103 W. 1000N in Fortville, wanted to erect an 83-foot-tall concrete-mixing silo as part of a proposed concrete batch plant on the CLM property’s south end.
CLM Pallet Recycling’s industrial zoning designation allows for concrete mixing to occur there, but only if the Fortville Board of Zoning Appeals grants a special exception.
Hundreds of homes are in the area, including on the north side of (Hancock) CR 1000N in Fishers.
The proposal drew opposition from Fortville and Fishers residents as well as Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness and Fishers City Council member Pete Peterson. Opponents’ concerns included health and environmental effects from dust emitted from concrete aggregate, noise from the industrial process and concrete trucks’ impacts on roads.
Adam Zaklikowski, Fortville planning and building director, said in an email Wednesday that Matthews notified him that he does not want to move forward with the proposal for the concrete plant.
“We appreciated the robust feedback on this important matter and will continue to help build a great Fortville with our neighbors in Fishers in mind,” the town of Fortville said on its Facebook page.
Kesler Krieg, part of a neighborhood action group against the proposal, welcomed news of the withdrawal.
“Our community action group is pleased that the petitioner withdrew their zoning application,” Krieg told the Daily Reporter in an email. “It was the best possible outcome for the continued good health of residents in Fortville and Fishers.”
Fortville’s zoning board first heard the request last month, but continued it to May to get more information about the potential effects of concrete batch plants and recommended spacing between them and residential areas.
The May 26 zoning board meeting has been canceled, as the concrete plant was its only agenda item.
