Deny Sable Developing, Inc.'s open pit sand mine in Courtland Township!

  • by: Chris Bergeron
  • recipient: The Courtland Township Planning Commission and Township Board

About this Petition
Sable Development, Inc. has submitted a proposal to the Courtland Township Planning Commission for a Special Use Permit to put a 17+ acre open pit sand mine in the heart of peaceful, picturesque Courtland Township!

The initial proposal is for a minimum 5-7 YEARS of mining, to include the removal of UP TO 50 double trailer truckloads from 7AM to 5PM, Monday through Friday and possibly weekends. The proposal also includes provisions for other cumbersome, loud equipment such as multiple front-end loaders, a gravel CRUSHER, and a gravel screener onsite. The pit will also be open to the public, creating immeasurable increases in all types of heavy vehicle traffic for the surrounding areas which will be detrimental to pedestrians and already crumbling roads.

The proposal also includes plans for an UNFENCED pond of unspecified depth which will be “dependent on ground water conditions and adjusted as necessary”. This pit will also include a wash station which will create runoff into the surrounding areas and our groundwater.

The site is located on the corner of Shaner Avenue and 11 Mile Road, less than 2 miles from the heart of idyllic Rockford, MI and right in the middle of multiple neighborhoods with many small children.

Also, the site is immediately adjacent to the headwaters of Shaw Creek, a tributary to the beautiful Rogue River - a renowned steelhead and recreational river that runs through the heart of Rockford.

What was once gorgeous farmland filled with deer, wild turkey and other natural wildlife will eventually become a dead, open pit.

This is real and is happening now in our beautiful corner of Courtland County, right in the middle of multiple neighborhoods and wetlands, and less than two miles from the heart of Rockford and the famed Rogue River. Once the application and special land use are approved, this mining operation is ready to begin. The ramifications for Courtland Township and the surrounding areas will be enormous. Shaner Avenue, 10 Mile, 11 Mile, and 12 Mile roads will be inundated with up to 50 double load trailers of sand, every day (including Saturdays) for 5-7 years minimum. This pit will destroy wildlife, devalue property, and change the culture of Courtland Township and surrounding areas for years to come.

How can I help?
You can help by signing this petition against the sand pit - signatures speak loudly in numbers!

You can also help by attending all upcoming scheduled public hearings at the Courtland Township Hall, 7450 – 14 Mile Road, Rockford, and voicing your opposition directly. The more people who attend these meetings, the better! The Courtland Township Planning Commission needs to see that the majority of its residents are vehemently opposed to this sand pit! Attendance at all Courtland Township meetings are important, however the most important meetings at this point are the Planning Commission Meetings which are typically held the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM. The next meeting concerning the sand pit is scheduled for April 30, 2015, however meeting times are subject to change so please visit our website at www.preventthepit.org for updates. Meeting dates and times are also published in The Advance newspaper prior to each meeting.

Also, sending letters to the Planning Commission voicing your concerns about the sand pit such as public safety, water quality and other environmental impacts, and plummeting property values really lets the Planning Commission know that we are serious about stopping this sand pit and will do whatever we can to protect our families and our community!

Send letters to:

Courtland Township Planning Commission
7450 - 14 Mile Rd
Rockford, MI 49341

Thanks for your support!

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