Azusa : Panel Delays Quarry Permit

After the city staff gave Azusa Rock Inc.’s quarry a clean bill of health in their annual review of the facility, planning commissioners Tuesday delayed approval of the quarry’s operating permit at the request of environmentalists.

Planning commissioners voted to continue the public hearing until Jan. 13 to give environmentalists time to review the city staff’s report.

“We’ve got a very different story to tell,” said Jim McJunkin, leader of Save the Foothills, who says the quarry causes dust clouds and noise.

His appeal to the City Council to close the quarry was rejected in September after 10 months of debate.

City officials say inspections of the site found only minor violations.

“Azusa Rock has, in the past year, been generally in compliance with its conditions of approval,” Dan Watrous, Azusa’s senior planner, told the commission. He said one truck went in eight minutes early and some days minor dust was visible.

G. Thomas Davis, Azusa Rock’s senior manager, told commissioners that the quarry was only eight minutes away from a perfect record.

Christmas Tree Recycling

Azusa residents may participate in the city’s Christmas tree recycling program from Dec. 27 to Jan. 7.

Trees can be dropped off at six of the city’s parks--Memorial, Northside, Pioneer, Slauson, Gladstone and Zacatecas--where Western Disposal will haul them off to be chipped into mulch, said Ginny Dadaian, administrative analyst for the city.

“It’s environmentally and economically better. If the trees were going into the landfills, customers would end up being charged for them,” she said.