Rendon residents are battening down the hatches against the proposal of a concrete batch plant they believe would deleteriously affect their community. Led by local business owner Brandon McElroy, the community has organized a movement named Green Air Solutions to counteract the effects of the proposed J7 Ready Mix plant, which would be situated dangerously close to homes and future school sites, as reported by Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
McElroy, who has become the face of resistance, owns several businesses and has stated that his opposition is not against growth but rather for the health and safety of the community, especially considering the proximity of the proposed site to an under-construction intermediate school at 600 feet and a planned high school at 2,600 feet. “We don’t mind growth. We don’t mind certain things coming in, but don’t kill us by doing this,” McElroy said. The residents' group has taken action through merchandise sales and fundraising dinners to prepare for their push against the permit application, as per Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
The controversy surrounding the plant proposal has been propelled further by a notice of violation issued by a state environmental investigator for J7's lack of authorization on a small construction project. Neighbors were also upset by the company's failure to meet public notice requirements. These issues have only reinforced the community's resolve to prevent the plant's establishment, according to the Fort Worth Report.
During a defense of the plant's environmental precautions, Richard Mayhew, manager at J7 Ready Mix, led a tour at their Alvarado plant, pointing out their efforts to mitigate pollution through frequent watering of trucks, filter systems to catch dust, and the application of asphalt to limit dust from truck traffic. Despite these measures, McElroy remains unconvinced, expressing that any attempt to assuage the community's concerns is futile. "There’s absolutely no possibility for them to persuade us that everything’s going to be fine," he said. McElroy asserts the company is not willing to acknowledge the potential for harmful pollutants at the proposed location, per the Fort Worth Report.
With publicly voiced opposition ramping up, a meeting has been set for residents to express their views. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will host this meeting, a critical forum for discussion about the future of J7 Ready Mix's ambitions and the preservation of Rendon's community health. Both the company and residents will have their say on December 11 at Mansfield's Anchora Event Center. State Rep. David Cook, along with hundreds of residents, is expected to weigh in at the confrontation.
