Santa Clara Co. Puts Brakes On Rock Quarry Transport

CUPERTINO, CA -- Putting a temporary halt to a contemptuous issue, Santa Clara County has ordered the Stevens Creek Quarry to stop transporting, refining and reselling the aggregated crushed rock from its site.

The movement of rock between Stevens Creek and Lehigh quarries over the last few months has included the use of local roads in Cupertino, which has caused an uproar among residents because of increased truck traffic. They believe the traffic numbering more than 20 trucks circulating between the two quarries has created hazardous conditions on city streets for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.

The decision comes after the city of Cupertino’s interim City Manager Timm Borden sent a letter last month to the county. In the letter, Borden states that “the current conditions created by the two quarries are not acceptable," with noise, emissions and debris being the main reported culprits. He requested that the county inform the quarries to cease and desist the exporting and processing of materials between the two sites.

In the summer of 2018, Lehigh began an effort to widen an existing fire access road between their quarry and the Stevens Creek Quarry. The Santa Clara County Planning Department issued a violation notice to Lehigh and directed the company to stop the widening efforts, thus prohibiting Lehigh from using the access road for the transportation of materials.

With this access road no longer available, Lehigh and Stevens Creek Quarry began transporting the materials over city streets. Therefore, truck traffic on Stevens Creek and Foothill Boulevards increased.

Despite the demand to stop importing the rock, the county by law did not extend that order to the local streets of specific jurisdictions.

A community meeting planned on Feb. 28 to discuss the matter will be hosted by county Supervisor Joe Simitian. The event will feature updates from representatives of nearly a dozen county, regional and national agencies that are responsible for regulating different aspects of Lehigh’s quarry and cement plant operations, according to the Bay Area for Clean Environment. The environmental advocacy group added the gathering will provide an opportunity for questions from attendees.

The meeting will take place at the Cupertino Community Hall from 7 to 9 p.m. at 10300 Torre Ave., next to the main library in Cupertino.

For more information about the meeting, view the Cupertino city website:
https://www.cupertino.org/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/11721/18