Ohio Officials Consider Zoning Laws for Proposed Magnesium Granule Company
2010-06-24
The Fairfield Township Zoning Commission decided Monday to table any action until next week regarding a request to change zoning law to allow the manufacture of explosive dust or powders. A follow-up meeting is set for 7 p.m. June 29 at the township administration building.
Almamet GmbH, a magnesium granule production company, is proposing to build a plant to produce magnesium powder on acreage behind the old Kaiser Refractories plant off of Cherry Valley Road outside of Columbiana in Ohio.
The township Board of Zoning Appeals had already granted the company a conditional use permit, but then withdrew the approval after learning the township's zoning resolution doesn't permit the production of explosive dust or powders in the township.
Commission members explained that two sections of the zoning resolution would have to be amended, one dealing with pyrophorics and explosive dust and the other dealing with flammable gases and liquids.
Seven township residents spoke out against the project, with four people speaking in its favor, including the project manager and three representatives of a trucking company which owns part of the property with the Columbiana County Port Authority. The company also still has to purchase the property and get approvals from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The company would also fall under regulations from the National Fire Protection Association and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
A concern of the commission is the fact that if the change is made to allow the production of the explosive dust in the township, that means any company interested in that type of production can approach them about a conditional use.
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