We are a group of citizens opposed to the rezoning of parcel number 10-07-30-00-00-002.000 located in the 19100 block of Allisonville Road in a highly residential area of Noblesville, Indiana. We request the Common Council reject the change of zoning request by Beaver Gravel (Chris Beaver) and related parties so the 50-acre lot cannot be mined for sand and gravel, disrupting Potter’s Bridge Park, the nearby residents and neighbors, and the surrounding ecosystem.

Our reasons for opposing this industrial operation include:

1. Quarries and their resulting quarry lakes are known to be dangerous for people of all ages.
   The Beaver-created quarry lake at Strawtown Koteewi Park has an extensive list of rules – no swimming, no wading, no rafting, and fishing only in a designated area – because of its steep, sudden underwater drop-offs and unstable shoreline. The posted rules acknowledge the danger in the lake: “Dangerous steep underwater drop-offs.”
   
   
2. We don’t like the precedent it sets.
   By rezoning the land and allowing the operation, the local government sets precedent to allow major industrial operations in other residential areas throughout Noblesville.
   
   
3. We’re concerned for our children.
   Noblesville students who attend 5 public schools within a 2-mile radius could inhale airborne fine particulate matter, which carries a substantial health risk for children, especially children under 10. (Source)
   
   
4. The serenity of the park would be disrupted for a decade or more.
   Afternoon strolls across the bridge, or through the trails – including trails on the donated land – would be met with beeping trucks, clouds of dust, rumbling rocks, heavy equipment sounds and emissions, and other industrial nuisances. Potter’s Bridge Park would become an unwelcome destination.
   
   
5. We care about the White River and its unique ecosystem.
   Studies show that mining so close to a river cause physical changes to a river system, ultimately leading to reduced species diversity and increased invasive species. (source)
   
   
6. Studies show road and bridge infrastructure can be seriously affected by gravel pits in or near floodplains – and fixing those problems requires taxpayer money.
   Not only do the roads deteriorate more quickly because of the increased traffic from heavy trucks loaded with rock, floodplain mining can cause changes to the riverbed which can cause infrastructure problems for bridges from below. (Source)

For these reasons, we implore the Noblesville Common Council to reject this rezoning request.