Olathe's Oak Run residents share concerns about possible rock quarry expansion

OLATHE, Kan. — KSHB 41 reporter Olivia Acree covers portions of Johnson County, Kansas, including Olathe and Lenexa. Share your story idea with Olivia.

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UPDATE, Sept. 15 | Monday night, Olathe’s Planning Commission passed the rezoning and special use permits required to expand a rock quarry near 151st and Clare Road, despite a dozen or so residents speaking out against the project.

The expansion would allow Johnson County Aggregates to bring a mine closer to the Oak Run neighborhood, causing concern for some residents.

Johnson County reporter Olivia Acree spoke with neighbors who worry how the additional mining could affect their health and homes.

The city council will have the final say on the issue at their Oct. 6 meeting.

ORIGINAL STORY | A proposed rock quarry expansion near an Olathe neighborhood is raising concerns among residents who worry about what additional mining could mean for their homes.

The Oak Run neighborhood sits just down the road from the quarry's current operations, but the expansion would bring the mine closer. The proposal goes before the Planning Commission Monday night.

A neighbor reached out to share that dust and blasting are the biggest concerns for people living nearby.

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"The fear of added dust is a major impact on multiple levels, health and safety being primary in this," Korey Parker said. "The general consensus from the community is that they don't want this surface mined at all.”

Parker said some residents can already see and hear the operation from their homes.

The company, Johnson County Aggregates, wants to mine the surface of the new area for 10 years. After that, the land would be donated to the city of Olathe.

The city said it asked the company for a plan to control dust and a study looking at blasting impacts. Those reports will be shared at Monday night's meeting.

Parker said he still wants to know whether those protections will be enough.

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"What does the community have in this? That's really the big question, and we're being told these things — right, wrong or indifferent — from the corporation, but who's holding them accountable to the standard?" Parker said.

Olathe said special use permits are reviewed annually if passed, and the city would follow up on complaints and any required improvements as they come up.

The Planning Commission will consider the rezoning and special use permit in a meeting that starts at 7 p.m. Monday.

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