FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO)— A large public hearing is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. tonight at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, where officials expect attendance to exceed 1,000 people as debate continues over the proposed Southwest Allen County Quarry project. The meeting comes amid sustained publi c discussion involving residents, school officials, and local institutions regarding potential zoning and land-use changes tied to the project area southwest of Fort Wayne. On “Fort Wayne’s Morning News with Kayla Blakeslee,” City Councilman and City Plan Commission member Dr. Scott Meyers discussed the scope of the proposal, community feedback, and the structure of tonight’s proceedings. Project proximity and jurisdictional scope Meyers said the quarry site sits outside city limits but near residential areas on the southwest edge of his district. “It’s a peculiar situation because it’s technically outside of the city but it’s within a few hundred meters of a number of homes that are at the southwest border of my district,” Meyers said. “As a city councilman my first job is to listen to the needs of my neighbors and I have received overwhelming feedback on this probably more than any other issue since I started that people just don’t want this near their churches their schools and IU Hospital.” He added that while zoning authority rests with county officials, city residents are still likely to be affected. “Almost overwhelmingly the impact would be on the southwest side of the city,” he said. Concerns cited by residents and officials During the interview, Meyers outlined several issues that he said have been raised by constituents, including blasting activity, industrial traffic, environmental concerns, and land-use compatibility. “The top concerns that have been expressed to me number one is the blasting,” Meyers said. “Whether you’re a neighbor sitting on your back porch or whether it’s a patient in the hospital getting an MRI that could theoretically go offline with a dynamite blast.” He also referenced transportation impacts tied to potential rail and truck activity. “The second is heavy industrial traffic through truck and rail spur,” he said. Meyers further addressed environmental concerns associated with limestone extraction. “Another issue of course is the environmental effect of the dust and limestone can produce dust,” he said. “Even though the technologies are improved from what they used to be there’s still a health risk for chronic respiratory disease for those who live very near it.” He also cited land-use designation under the county’s planning framework. “Lastly it’s just it’s not compatible in terms of the optics,” Meyers said. “This is a low-impact zone according to the Allen plan and so what that means it’s a good fit for homes and for farmland and again I can’t imagine anything more incongruent than a huge quarry right next to homes schools and hospitals.” Study status and community input When asked whether concerns have been fully studied, Meyers said additional analysis is always possible but emphasized the role of public input. “I think it’s always helpful to do more study,” he said. “But I think that we know enough to know that we have to listen to the voice of our community which is overwhelmingly against it.” He described the situation as part of a broader balance between development and community response. “As a member of the Planning Commission I always want to see development succeed,” he said. “I don’t want to kill projects. I want to see development succeed and succeed well. But sometimes when the community is overwhelmingly against it that has a life of its own as it should.” Meyers also said opposition has come from both residents and local institutions. “We’re also hearing from groups like Southwest Allen County schools IU Health,” he said, referencing potential stakeholders in the area. “I mean institutions that potentially could benefit from tax revenue from this quarry being there near Homestead Road and I-69.” He added that community concern spans age groups. “I was at a Cub Scout event on Liberty Mills Road and I was talking to some young kids,” Meyers said. “Every single one of them asked about the quarry.” Zoning process and votes expected Meyers outlined the procedural steps that could follow tonight’s hearing. “The BZA Board of Zoning Appeals from Allen County will be voting on what’s called a special-use variance,” he said, explaining it would allow quarry operations on land currently designated for agricultural use. He also described a second stage involving rezoning considerations. “Then next would be the Allen County Plan Commission,” Meyers said. “And they would be voting on allowing rezoning for a shopping center in theory which could have doctors offices and shops and then a heavy industrial area which is the bigger concern.” He said the industrial component is the most significant concern raised in his district. “Because it would just be huge equipment think of an asphalt plant,” Meyers said. “One minute you’re getting a Starbucks the next minute you’ve got tons and tons of asphalt and equipment all around.” Public meeting logistics and participation With attendance expected to be high, Meyers advised early arrival for those planning to speak. “Every member of the community is allowed two minutes to speak,” he said. “My suggestion would be to get there early because there will be so many people the line to speak could be quite long.” He said he will not be present in person due to scheduled city council business but will submit written remarks. “I would be speaking myself except that we have City Council and we have some big votes tonight,” Meyers said. “I will have a letter there.” He summarized his guidance for attendees. “Have a brief outline of what you want to say in two minutes,” he said. “Get in line and just be honest and speak your mind.” Written statement and position Meyers confirmed that his submitted letter will reflect his comments made during the broadcast and earlier correspondence with county officials. “It’s essentially saying the things that we’re talking about here,” he said. “We have to respect the voice of our community and we respect the process.” He added that the letter is not intended to be adversarial. “We are not anti-quarry,” Meyers said. “We’re not trying to ruffle the feathers of our county leaders but we’d just like to see this done perhaps in a more rural location so that we can create more of a win-win dynamic.” Annexation question remains open Toward the end of the interview, Meyers was asked whether annexation is being considered as a possible response if the project moves forward outside city limits. “We’ll wait and see how tonight goes,” he said. “That’s something that certainly we can talk about. I don’t want to get ahead of my skis.” He added that further discussion would depend on tonight’s outcome. “We will do everything we can to protect the voice of our community,” Meyers said. “And we’ll begin by seeing if it proceeds past tonight.” The public hearing at the Coliseum is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The post WOWO Exclusive: Dr. Scott Myers discusses City of Fort Wayne and the Quarry with Kayla appeared first on WOWO News/Talk 92.3 FM and 1190 AM. ...read more read less