Community members gathered together Sunday at Rock Falls Park in Slippery Rock for an event they coined as CreekFest. With beautiful weather, live music from the local band Uptown Classic Hits, a bonfire, and free food and beverages for attendees. People seemed to be enjoying the company of each other and the natural aesthetic at Rock Falls Park.
This event was held by a group called Save Slippery Rock Creek as a way to celebrate their love for the creek and raise awareness of the possible threat of pollution. What started as a group of concerned neighbors has become a local movement. Many Slippery Rock residents are worried that the proposed asphalt plant will pollute their well-water systems, threaten local ecosystems, and cause direct harm to wildlife in the area.
It has been two years since community members have teamed up against Heilman Pavement Specialties Inc., a company based in Sarver, PA.
Heilman Pavement Specialties Inc., doing business as HEI-Way Premium Asphalt Materials, purchased the property located on the southwest corner of Route 108 and Stoughton Road in Slippery Rock Township.
When HEI-Way originally purchased this property, it was meant to be for RC-1 Rural Conservation. Since then, the company has applied and been approved to rezone the property for I-1 Light Industry.
Slippery Rock Township Zoning Board granted HEI-Way the rezoning. Since then, HEI-Way has requested a "special exception" that would change the zoning to "heavy manufacturing" if approved.
Chris Coleman, the primary coordinator of the organization, said that the main reason for the event was to raise awareness for the creek and the on going legal battle, as well as getting the community involved.
Coleman, who has resided in Slippery Rock for 11 years, purchased the property where he lives with his wife, who "loved everything about the creek." Coleman's wife has passed since the beginning of the battle with HEI-Way, but he shared that her passion for saving the creek was strong.
"We're trying to protect the creek," Coleman said, "all it takes is one accident, one little spill."
Coleman explained that he doesn't think the economic benefits would outweigh the environmental risk. He pointed out that the cold-mix asphalt plant would not create many jobs and that property values in the area might decrease due to environmental impacts.
Jaime Hammond, a local property owner and mother, shared similar concerns. Hammond stated that she has two properties down-stream from the sight, and she's most worried about the possible pollution of chemicals in her well from run-off water.
What started as public disapproval has turned into a legal battle, as Save Slippery Rock Creek is now upwards of $30,000 in legal fees.The group is currently fighting two on going cases: the first, an appeal to the special exception that was granted so that HEI-Way could operate a cold-mix asphalt plant on the property; jointly filed by Coleman, Marcia Carnahan, and Paul Boas. The second is an appeal on the decision to the rezoning of the property from RC1 Rural Conservation to Industrial.
You can support the local organization by signing the petition below or making a donation to their legal battle via their GoFundMe or Venmo @SaveSlipperyRockCreek
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