mike_s
Contributor
FYI. Madison Quarry in the news...
from http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/113455537370950.xml&coll=1
City Council studying possibilities for use of abandoned quarry land
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
By THOMAS R. TINGLE
For the Madison Spirit thomas67@knology.net
How it's used could affect the nearby Edgewater area
The city is evaluating the potential use for abandoned quarry property and has prepared a Request for Proposal intended to solicit formal proposals to lease, license or purchase the property.
City Councilman Jerry Jennings, whose has the quarry in his district, said there have been many preliminary inquiries about the property, including using it as a possible test site for rocket motors.
Jennings said the city obtained a professional land appraisal last September. The appraisal, which includes the western industrial side of the property, the quarry waterhole, and the eastern residential area, indicates the property is worth more than $570,000. The quarry property is located in city of Madison and incorporates 100 acres near the Edgewater residential community.
Jennings said the principle feature of the quarry property is the depleted abandoned quarry hole that has filled with water and has been used for recreational scuba diving activities for nearly 10 years.
The quarry property was deeded to Madison in 1995 after industrial quarrying operations ceased. In 1996, Rock Divers Inc. entered a 10-year lease with the city for the quarry property. Rock Divers operated the property as a recreational and entertainment facility, with primary emphasis on scuba diving activities. In September 2005, Rock Divers ceased operations and abandoned the quarry property, one year before lease termination. The quarry property has reverted to city control.
Jennings said Mayor Sandy Kirkindall has designated the eastern portion of the quarry property (zoned AG) for development as a passive rustic park.
"I fully concur with that initiative," he said. "Unfortunately development of this park must be delayed indefinitely because of the defeat of the recent tax referendum"
As a result of the defeat, Jennings said this portion of the park has not been secured as a designated park area.
"With the anticipation of no funds being appropriated or expended on park development in the intermediate future, the potential now exists for possible alternate uses of that land," he said. "Future city administrations may elect other uses, even the sale for revenue for probable unknown commercial development."
Jennings said it is the remainder of the property that is most problematic at the current time.
"The M2 Industrial zoning directly abuts the backyard property lines of many of Edgewater residents," he said. The sale of that portion of the quarry property with M2 zoning entails the potential of commercial activities that could adversely affect the quality of life of the adjacent homeowners, if not the entire Edgewatercommunity."
Jennings said a recent new development has been an interest expressed by the Madison Water and Wastewater Board to acquire the quarry hole and use the water in it as an emergency water source for the city if need be.
Jennings said now the city must decide what to do with quarry property.
"The choices are to either lease or license the property again, sell the property, retain the property for future city use, or actually negotiate with the Water Board for the acquisition of the property," he said. "I don't think the City Council will support the third option, and in my opinion, the property is not a viable probability.
Jennings said he urges the residents of Edgewater and the Edgewater Home Owners Association to call the mayor's office, City Council and Madison Water and Wastewater Board to tell them that they support they acquisition of the quarryproperty by the water board.
"It should also be stated that you firmly oppose the outright sale of the property to any other entity where the city loses control of the property," he said. "A worst-case scenario would be the sale of the property with the M2 zoning designation. Remember the interest by rocket motor testers."
from http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/113455537370950.xml&coll=1
City Council studying possibilities for use of abandoned quarry land
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
By THOMAS R. TINGLE
For the Madison Spirit thomas67@knology.net
How it's used could affect the nearby Edgewater area
The city is evaluating the potential use for abandoned quarry property and has prepared a Request for Proposal intended to solicit formal proposals to lease, license or purchase the property.
City Councilman Jerry Jennings, whose has the quarry in his district, said there have been many preliminary inquiries about the property, including using it as a possible test site for rocket motors.
Jennings said the city obtained a professional land appraisal last September. The appraisal, which includes the western industrial side of the property, the quarry waterhole, and the eastern residential area, indicates the property is worth more than $570,000. The quarry property is located in city of Madison and incorporates 100 acres near the Edgewater residential community.
Jennings said the principle feature of the quarry property is the depleted abandoned quarry hole that has filled with water and has been used for recreational scuba diving activities for nearly 10 years.
The quarry property was deeded to Madison in 1995 after industrial quarrying operations ceased. In 1996, Rock Divers Inc. entered a 10-year lease with the city for the quarry property. Rock Divers operated the property as a recreational and entertainment facility, with primary emphasis on scuba diving activities. In September 2005, Rock Divers ceased operations and abandoned the quarry property, one year before lease termination. The quarry property has reverted to city control.
Jennings said Mayor Sandy Kirkindall has designated the eastern portion of the quarry property (zoned AG) for development as a passive rustic park.
"I fully concur with that initiative," he said. "Unfortunately development of this park must be delayed indefinitely because of the defeat of the recent tax referendum"
As a result of the defeat, Jennings said this portion of the park has not been secured as a designated park area.
"With the anticipation of no funds being appropriated or expended on park development in the intermediate future, the potential now exists for possible alternate uses of that land," he said. "Future city administrations may elect other uses, even the sale for revenue for probable unknown commercial development."
Jennings said it is the remainder of the property that is most problematic at the current time.
"The M2 Industrial zoning directly abuts the backyard property lines of many of Edgewater residents," he said. The sale of that portion of the quarry property with M2 zoning entails the potential of commercial activities that could adversely affect the quality of life of the adjacent homeowners, if not the entire Edgewatercommunity."
Jennings said a recent new development has been an interest expressed by the Madison Water and Wastewater Board to acquire the quarry hole and use the water in it as an emergency water source for the city if need be.
Jennings said now the city must decide what to do with quarry property.
"The choices are to either lease or license the property again, sell the property, retain the property for future city use, or actually negotiate with the Water Board for the acquisition of the property," he said. "I don't think the City Council will support the third option, and in my opinion, the property is not a viable probability.
Jennings said he urges the residents of Edgewater and the Edgewater Home Owners Association to call the mayor's office, City Council and Madison Water and Wastewater Board to tell them that they support they acquisition of the quarryproperty by the water board.
"It should also be stated that you firmly oppose the outright sale of the property to any other entity where the city loses control of the property," he said. "A worst-case scenario would be the sale of the property with the M2 zoning designation. Remember the interest by rocket motor testers."
