PLAINWELL, Mich. (The Kalamazoo Press) — A ready-mix concrete plant could be coming to Plainwell, and the people who live nearby say they feel blindsided by the proposal.
City leaders have not yet approved the construction at the corner of 8th Street and Miller Road, but residents raised a host of concerns at Monday's city council meeting, ranging from increased truck traffic to dust and constant noise.
Bill McNair moved into his home in a remote section of Plainwell expecting a quiet place to retire.
"Across from us was a farm field," McNair said. "Behind us was a farm field and a couple neighbors. We thought we found our oasis."
But after the City of Plainwell sold the land across the street from his home, McNair and his neighbors worry their peace is about to vanish. The land sits inside an industrial park, and the proposed plant would take up the remaining 27 acres of the space. Because the parcel had been vacant for years, McNair said he had no idea this kind of manufacturing would ever be so close.
"I feel lied to," he said. "I don't know that anybody at the city necessarily lied to me. I don't think my realtor lied to me, but that's just how I feel. That's how my neighbors feel."
Residents brought up numerous concerns at Monday's city council meeting. McNair said they worry about trucks going in and out of the plant along 8th Street, greatly increasing the amount of traffic they are used to. They also do not know how much noise to expect, especially with a proposed entrance in front of their homes.
Plainwell City Manager Justin Lakamper said the city is ready to address the complaints.
"Most of the concerns revolved around traffic noise, dust, light, things like that," Lakamper said. "A lot of which, almost entirely of which is dealt with in our zoning ordinance."
According to Lakamper, Plainwell City Councilmembers will have to approve the planning commission-recommended site plan and a special use permit before Bex Farms, the company behind the project, can move forward.
"Both of which are contingent upon them being in line with our ordinance," Lakamper said.
The ordinance requires a maximum of 76 decibels of noise at the property line. All lighting fixtures must also point downward into the property. But those rules are not reassuring to all of the plant's neighbors.
"You can't tell me with a front-end loader running all day long, there isn't going to be a beep, beep, beep, beep going on from 7 to 3 p.m. all day long," McNair said.
In an email to News Channel 3, Dan Balkema of Bex Farms said an eight-foot berm will go up between the plant and its 8th Street neighbors, along with trees. Trucks will not be permitted to use "jake brakes," and they will use smart back-up alarms. Balkema estimates 20 to 30 loads will be delivered per day once the plant begins operation, currently scheduled for mid-to-late summer 2027.
McNair simply wishes the plant would pick a different location.
"I would be extremely happy if they decided to sell it to somebody else and they didn't put a ready-mix plant in front of my house," he said.
The Plainwell City Council tabled approval of the site plans at its last meeting. Councilmembers are expected to consider the plans again on Sept. 14.