Ernst Concrete not moving forward with St. Albans concrete plant

Less than a week after the Licking County Planning Commission recommended rezoning St. Albans Township property for a concrete plant, the company pursuing the development said it's not moving forward with the project.

Ernst Concrete, which sought to rezone a township property northeast of the Ohio 161-Ohio 37 interchange for a concrete plant, withdrew its application Wednesday, according to a letter from the company's attorney to the St. Albans Township Trustees.

The letter reads in part, "While Ernst Concrete sought this rezoning to establish a long-term company in St. Albans that would serve and be part of the community, Ernst respects the goals established by the community in the recently approved Comprehensive Plan that designates the subject property for commercial uses."

On July 25, the county Planning Commission rejected its staff’s recommendation and approved a non-binding resolution in support of rezoning about 13 acres along Moots Run Road east of Ohio 37.

The 5-4 decision left some St. Albans residents in tears.

The township Zoning Commission took up the rezoning two days later and unanimously recommended denying the rezoning based on the township's comprehensive plan that passed in November.

The comprehensive plan shows future land use for the area around the interchange as planned commercial, identifying possible activity as offices, professional services, institutional uses, restaurants and retail including grocery stores.

During a Tuesday meeting, the St. Albans Township Trustees scheduled a public hearing on the rezoning request for Aug. 24. Jim Lenner, who is contracted to serve as the township's administrator, confirmed Wednesday afternoon that the Aug. 24 public hearing has been canceled as a result of the rezoning being pulled. The township will take no further action on the application.

The concrete plant hasn't been the only possible St. Albans development getting attention. Two separate asphalt plant proposals have residents concerned about the health and environmental impacts of the potential facilities. Local residents spoke out against the possible plants at numerous meetings throughout the spring and summer.

Scioto Materials, an affiliate of The Shelly Co., proposes a plant at 1434 Tharp Road, near Ohio 37, on the village's southeast side, and Mar-Zane Materials of Zanesville proposes one for the northwest side at 2699 Johnstown Alexandria Road, which is the Martin Trucking property.

A July 19 meeting of the St. Albans Township Board of Zoning Appeals left residents frustrated as it devolved into chaos as the board discussed Scioto Materials' appeal of a violation at the Tharp Road property. Ultimately, the board tabled the matter.

Residents have asked the township trustees to speak against the possible plants, but Trustee Bruce Lane explained the board's reasoning for not doing so during the Tuesday meeting. As the board that appoints BZA members, the trustees can't speak about applications that come before that board, Lane said.

"We're not allowed to do that. We have a BZA for a reason. It's not what we're supposed to do and we're not supposed to influence their decision," he said.

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