More than 100 Rockton-area residents packed into Rockford's Veterans Memorial Hall for a Winnebago County Zoning Board of Appeals meeting. Over the course of five hours, they voiced their objections to the construction of an asphalt plant near the village.
Northern Illinois Service Co. had applied for a special use permit to build a plant just off Illinois Route 2 in Black's Quarry. The Rockford Register-Star reports the facility would encompass about 35 acres and produce 80,000 tons of asphalt annually.
However, residents worry the plant would cause increased traffic, greater wear and tear on the roads, and have a negative effect on property values.
Rockton village trustees passed a resolution opposing the plant yesterday, and the Winnebago County Zoning Board will continue their discussion of the special-use permit tonight at 7:45. The meeting will take place at the Winnebago County Courthouse.