County Denies Barge Terminal For Future Sand Mine

Opponents of the Starved Rock area sand mine scored a minor victory.

The La Salle County Board Thursday voted 12 to 10 against granting a zoning change to ADM for a new barge terminal in Ottawa that would ship out sand from the proposed Mississippi Sand mine near Starved Rock State Park.  The vote came despite a unanimous recommendation from the Zoning Board of Appeals to approve the zoning change from Ag to industrial.

Board members like Rick Scott of Ottawa argue that ADM should ask for a special use permit instead of a zoning change.  If they got a special use permit, the property could only be used for shipping sand.  By getting a zoning change, the county has little control over what type of industry could use the property in the future.

A couple living near the proposed barge terminal also are against it.  They’re concerned about dust, noise and loss of property value.

Brett Madison with ADM says they’ve already spent a considerable amount of money to appease the couple.  He says it’s a balancing act putting in a multi-million dollar project that creates jobs while also trying to be a good neighbor.