Vulcan plans to expand Joliet quarry

JOLIET – A Vulcan Materials plan to expand its Joliet quarry got a green light Thursday.

The Joliet Plan Commission approved an annexation and zoning agreement that Vulcan is seeking for 18 acres at Brandon and Zurich Roads.

The agreement next goes to the Joliet City Council for approval.

There was little discussion of the plan before the commission voted unanimously for approval.

Attorney Michael Hansen, representing Vulcan, said later that the company would likely expand operations to the new area in 2020.

“They need the space. It’s available,” Hansen said.

The proposed expansion area would be behind a 20-foot tall berm and will not be visible from the street, according to a city staff report on the plan.

Operating restrictions in a 1994 annexation agreement between Joliet and Vulcan would apply to the expanded area. Some of the restrictions address the location of the quarry near Laraway School.

Those restrictions include:

• No blasting within 500 feet of a school building or dwelling;

• No blasting during school hours;

• No blasting on nonschool days before 1 p.m. or after 5 p.m.;

• No blasting on holidays;

• No mining within 200 feet of a road.

The city receives a minimum royalty of $50,000 a year plus additional royalty based on sales, according to the staff report.

Vulcan has been operating a quarry in the area for more than
100 years, the staff report said.

The original site was off South Chicago Street and is now a landfill for clean construction and demolition debris.

The quarry entrance will remain where it is on Laraway Road after the expansion.