By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES – A Dowagiac-based company has requested that the Niles Township Planning Commission grant a special land use permit for a gravel pit, which will allow the excavation and extraction of natural materials located on 48.39 acres on Geyer Road.
Patriot Materials and Transport LLC is requesting to mine the property, which sits by the U.S. 31 Bypass.
Tracy Vines, Zoning Administrator, said the township held a three-hour public hearing Tuesday evening, with continued discussion held Thursday night. According to Chairman Gary De Groot, no decision was made Thursday evening, but the final decision should come on May 1 at 7 p.m.
According to Vines, on Tuesday around 30 people attended the public hearing, with the majority of them opposing the idea.
"They have a lot of concerns, especially the residents who live around the area," Vines said.
Patriot Materials and Transport has entered into a lease agreement with current owners, Larry Reed, Gary Reed and Frederick Reed. Historically, the property was a family farm owned by the parents of the current owners.
"What they are wanting to do is mine in three phases, each in five-acre intervals. There's another piece of property adjacent to this land which is leased by Michiana Aggregate for the same purpose," Vines said.
According to the application, Patriot Materials and Transport stated that the property is very close to the bypass, making for easy in and easy out access.