Manheim, NY – A proposed sand and gravel quarry off State Route 5 drew sharp criticism from neighboring residents and landowners during a public hearing before the Town of Manheim Planning Board on Tuesday evening, with concerns centering on noise, dust, traffic, and potential harm to local farms and homes.
The hearing, a continuation of the May session, addressed Four Branch Farms, LLC’s application for a special use permit, site plan review, and area variance for the 11.2-acre Manheim Center Mine.
Attorney Michael Vogel, representing Four Branch Farms, presented the project as a continuation of historic mining activity on the 22.6-acre property, which dates back to at least the 1960s. He emphasized that the operation would involve no blasting, only excavation of sand and gravel using equipment like front-end loaders and excavators.
The mine, permitted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in December 2024 after an eight-month review, would operate seasonally from April to November, with hours limited to 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
Vogel highlighted the DEC’s comprehensive environmental review under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), which concluded with a negative declaration stating that there would be no significant impacts on water, traffic, noise, dust, or cultural resources.
“The review that the site underwent was comprehensive with the DEC,” Vogel said. “They reviewed it for nearly a year, and we think that they addressed a lot of the comments and concerns that we heard tonight.”
The DEC permit allows mining on 4.9 acres during the initial five-year term, with conditions for dust control, setbacks, and reclamation, including a posted bond.
Vogel noted the site’s existing access to Route 5 and argued that it would not create notable additional traffic or noise, aligning with the town’s zoning regulations that allow quarries as specially permitted uses in the agricultural district.
However, opposition was fervent, led by attorney Jeffrey Baker on behalf of adjacent neighbors Donald and Monica Aney, owners of a century-old dairy farm at 7667 State Route 5, and Larry and Joan Sargeant, whose historic home at 7669 State Route 5 is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
Baker argued the application is incomplete, lacking a formal variance request and sufficient data on equipment, traffic queuing, and environmental impacts. He criticized the DEC’s review as cursory due to inadequate public notice, claiming neighbors were not informed until the town’s May hearing notice.
“The Aneys and Sargeants are strongly opposed,” Baker said, citing potential devaluation of homes, disruption to quiet enjoyment, and harm to the Aney farm.
A key focus was noise: Baker presented a review by the engineering firm Barton & Loguidice, which deemed the applicant’s noise assessment to be inadequate.
The firm, in a letter dated July 21, pointed to flaws including unspecified equipment models, failure to account for backup alarms or peak truck activity, insufficient background data (based on a single 20-minute sample), and unsupported assumptions about vegetation and berms as noise barriers.
“The noise assessment does not include information on the equipment that will be used,” the Barton & Loguidice report stated, concluding it “should not be relied upon to demonstrate compliance” with the town’s 70 dBA limit at property lines.
Baker urged the board to issue a positive SEQRA declaration requiring an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), arguing the project’s admitted increases in traffic and noise warrant deeper scrutiny. He also recommended keeping the hearing open for further submissions.
Residents echoed these concerns during the public comment period. Dale Aney, of the family dairy farm, warned of dust causing respiratory illnesses or pinkeye in cows, which could potentially devastate his livelihood.
“Thirteen years ago, my family suffered a tremendous loss of our entire herd,” Aney said. “I feel this mine is too close to my dairy and will cause damage to my dairy cows and my family’s way of living.”
Larry Sargeant, whose home borders the proposed quarry site, expressed frustration over the lack of early input from neighbors despite the applicant’s investments.
Sargeant noted that he and his wife have owned their home for over 40 years, investing heavily in restoring the 200-year-old Finck/Van Valkenburg homestead into an architectural landmark in the historic Mohawk Valley—a region rich in national history, marked by battles, wars, and governmental innovations.
“As the nearest neighbor to the proposed quarry, it is confusing that our input was not requested before the investment of time and money cited by the attorney for Four Branch,” Sargeant said, adding that the quarry represents a “misuse” of the property and will diminish the value of all area homes.
Dawn Mosher, a paramedic at 7037 State Route 5 and Aney relative, highlighted noise disrupting her daytime sleep after night shifts. “The lack of sleep is going to be my biggest issue,” she said.
Pat Frazier, a 50-year resident of 7911 State Route 5, expressed dismay at the potential for increased dust and traffic. “I can’t even fathom what it will be like,” Frazier said, praising the community’s pride in well-maintained homes.
Stacy Barnett Baker, from nearby Ash Road, shared experiences from another Four Branch mine, citing road damage, pet deaths, and safety issues from truck traffic. “There are so many unforeseen things that can happen,” she warned.
The agenda included acknowledging the town engineer’s site visit report from Lamont Engineers, public comments, and attorney recommendations, which noted the need for more information before action.
No decision was made; the board may continue the hearing or issue recommendations to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), which holds final authority on the special use permit and variance.
