Company buys local land long sought for mining work

Barrett Paving Materials has bought 82 acres of farm land in West Carrollton for $1.5 million, county property records show.

Barrett — which produces, sells, and delivers crushed stone, sand and gravel products in Ohio and Indiana — has long eyed that property as a potential mining source.

The company, based at 2589 Needmore Road, bought 82.5 acres of land just south of Farmersville-West Carrollton Road for that amount from Hewitt Farms LLC.

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A message seeking comment was sent to the company. Barrett produces, sells, and delivers crushed stone, sand and gravel products to Southwestern Ohio and Eastern Indiana.

In 2015, West Carrollton planners recommended against the company’s request to use that land, located west of the Great Miami River, as a potential mining source.

Planners at the time said the switch for land near the Miami Twp. border from M-2 manufacturing district to M-3 rural manufacturing district is inconsistent with the city’s comprehensive plan.

“It’s staff’s position that developing the (land) for residential or other mixed use is of much greater benefit to the community than what would be reclaimed after the mining operation,” city staffers said in 2015.

At the time, some West Carrollton residents were concerned about dirt and noise associated with possible mining work.

Brad Townsend, city manager for West Carrollton, had not been aware that the company had purchased the land.

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“They have filed nothing with us,” he said Friday morning.

The city has a development moratorium on the land, a moratorium that is about to expire in November, on that piece of property and adjoining properties, Townsend said.

After the moratorium expires, the company or others would be free to submit proposals for the site, but the city manager said the company has not communicated its plans to him.

The city has not rezoned that land for mining work.

The county recorded the land purchase Thursday.

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