Thoughts from the Public Hearing on the Expansion of the Near Island Quarry

Kayla Desroches/KMXT

Last night at its monthly regular meeting, the Kodiak Island Borough Zoning and Planning Commission discussed a conditional use permit application from the city to expand the quarry on Near Island. The city realized after the fact that the quarry is being built into the conservation zoning district, and the application is part of the process to fix that mistake by gaining the proper permissions.

Members of the public stepped up at the P&Z meeting to voice their thoughts. Many expressed concern that the quarry clashes with the forest area and trails bordering it. Here are excerpts of some of those statements.

After the public hearing and creating conditions, such as the installation of signs around the quarry, the Zoning and Planning Commission passed the main motion to move the expansion forward.