Quarry Meeting Fills With Residents Rattled by Proposal

A large crowd of Brookfield residents showed up with many questions during a public meeting Wednesday regarding the proposal for the former quarry lands - most opposing the plan and upset by what they call a lack of city communication.

A Brookfield business owner who lives near the quarry and did not want to be named said she was concerned with the motivations behind the project.

The proposal is to use the space as an area to dump "clean fill material," from highway projects, that would eventually shape the land and prepare it for development. A 60-acre park as well as a residential area are proposed for the space; the site is a total of 85-acres, which includes a 23-acre quarry lake.

The business owner said she is concerned the proposal is fueled by a hope to win a bid for the zoo-interchange construction project.

Many other residents shared concerns of noise or environmental risks that the project would pose on the quarry.

Mayor Steve Ponto said the biggest complaint he's heard deals with the process involved.

Construction trucks would be dumping at the quarry location for up to seven years, and many are concerned with traffic and noise disruptions.

"Going through this, it's a difficult process," Ponto said. "The end result might be much better."

Ponto said he did hear from at least one person who was supportive of the project because the planned park would be a positive addition to the city.

But many residents still expressed concerne, also over what they say is a lack of communication regarding the proposal, saying they had only heard of the public meeting and plans for the quarry the day before.

The mayor, however, said that the information was mailed to neighbors of the quarry and has also been available on the city's website.

The city cannot legally do anything to stop the proposed plans because it does not own the land. Super Excavators Inc. approached the city despite knowing they didn't need to have city approval with the hope that the company and the city could work together on the project, Ponto said.

Another public hearing will be scheduled during an upcoming Plan Commission meeting, Ponto said. The plan commission will then discuss the issue at a subsequent meeting before making a recommendation to the Common Council.