Many citizens voiced concerns about health and well being if the Meyer Material Company’s petition requesting an extension on its mining and restoration process were approved. (Photo by Adela Crandell Durkee/for Chronicle Media)

By the time Cary’s Board of Zoning, Planning and Appeals voted on Meyer Material Company’s petition requesting an extension on its mining and restoration process, the crowded ballroom at Crystal Lake Holiday Inn had thinned by about two-thirds.

In a 4-1 decision, the lone vote to recommend approval came from Patrick Khoury. Khoury’s vote came with caveats: “We need to make sure we recommend to Village Board that the village receives report on foreclosures and short sales. There should be a vigorous discussion about aggressive commercial development on the restored land on the IL-31 corridor, and Meyer Material should pay the penalties described in the original agreement.”

Although the ZPA recommends “no,” the final decision rests with the Village Board.

Representatives from Meyer justified the extension with two unforeseen factors the mining company experienced: the Great Recession and unknown “overburden” on aggregates that remain un-mined.

In 2008 Meyer received permission to mine the property on the east side if IL-31 and approximately one-quarter mile north of its intersection with Klasen Road. According to the approved ordinance, after the mining and restoration ceases, Cary Park District should have a 200-acre lake with surrounding restored recreational area, along with a development ready commercial areas.

2008 brought the beginning of a Great Recession. Because construction all but ceased, sales of mined materials plummeted. Although Meyer took steps to extract as many minerals as possible, the amount of material mined remained less than anticipated.

In 2011, Meyer became concerned that it would not be able to meet the time constraints, which was communicated to the ZPA, as required by the ordinance. By 2014, Meyer became concerned enough to file a petition to extend the deadlines. The ZPA unanimously said “no” to the petition. Meyer dropped the petition.

Today there is a market for aggregate, due to road construction along I-90 and big box stores outside of McHenry County. However, the mining is more time-consuming because of the overburden in some of the un-mined portions. This means there is a lot of soil that must be moved before Meyer can mine the aggregate. The ordinance requires Meyer contain all truck traffic within the mining area. Meyer transports aggregate out of the mine by conveyor.

The removed soil will remain somewhere in the mined area. Meyer’s petition diminishes the size of the lake by 4-5 acres and extends the mining and restoration process until 2020.

Many citizens voiced concerns about health and well being in a calm, yet emotional manner. Residents of the surrounding area feel the property values dropped, along with their ability to sell diminished since Meyer began mining. An independent study confirms that property values remain comparable to other areas of Cary. Other expressed annoyance about the constant hum of equipment and the dust generated. Of more critical concern is that several people now suffer from asthma, which they believe is a direct result of the dust.

A general consensus of the crowd included a frustration with the ZPA even considering the ordinance. Kate Depinto best summed up her frustration by pointing out “Meyer is part of a $45 million company. They need to live up to their agreement or suffer the consequences. To that end, ZPA Khoury, reminded Meyer representatives that the ordinance required letters of credit bonds, and financial obligations, which would result in $450,000 in fines for each year the project continues past the due date.

In closing Khoury reminded participants “this is quasi-judicial board that makes recommendation to the Village Board. Our role is to look at information without emotion. If you want to get your point across, show up at Village Board meeting. They are the final decision makers.”

— Cary ZPA votes no to Meyer Material petition for extension —