About the Proposed Development
What exactly is being proposed on Homestead Road?
US Aggregates (a Heritage Group subsidiary) has applied to rezone ~913 acres on Homestead Road from agricultural to heavy industrial use, as part of a larger ~1604-acre acquisition target in the Little River Valley. [WFFT Fox 55]
[Inside Indiana Business] The proposed development includes four industrial operations:
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An open-pit limestone quarry — within a ~710-acre industrial and quarry footprint (I3 Intensive Industrial + quarry zones), estimated to operate for 80–100 years [US Aggregates / Allen County D]
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Two asphalt plants — a major source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) [US Aggregates / Allen County D]
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A concrete batching plant — generating silica dust, cement particulate, and heavy truck traffic [US Aggregates / Allen County D]
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A Norfolk Southern rail spur — a 3-track rail complex (~~1.2 mi) for aggregate export [US Aggregates / Allen County D]
A separate 203-acre SC Commercial zone is also included in the application, adjacent to the industrial complex and the IU Health Regional Campus. Together, these would be among the largest industrial land-use changes in Southwest Allen County’s history.
What specific structures are planned for the site?
The filed site plan reveals the permanent, large-scale nature of this proposal. [US Aggregates / Allen County D] Key structures include:
- 20 structures across two asphalt plants — each plant has 6 ~85-foot silo structures and 4 ~50-foot oil storage structures
- 7 concrete silos — 4 primary batch plant silos (~100 ft) plus 3 rail loadout silos (~100 ft) served by conveyor from the quarry
- A 3-track rail complex spanning ~~1.2 miles: a staging track, a dedicated loadout track, and a run-around track for car repositioning
- A 20,000 sq ft maintenance shop and 7,500 sq ft scalehouse at the quarry entrance
- Crushers, conveyors, aggregate stockpiles, and stormwater infrastructure (not yet fully detailed in public filings)
This does not include the open pit itself, which would grow substantially over the 80–100 year operating period.
What is the land like today?
The land Heritage Group has targeted for acquisition is currently agricultural, with floodplain and wetland-adjacent areas along the Little River. [WFFT Fox 55] Its natural alternative value is wetlands, greenspace, and wildlife habitat — not residential or commercial development. The Little River Valley connects to Eagle Marsh, the largest inland urban wetland restoration in Allen County, and to Fox Island County Park. [Little River Wetlands Project]
What is the SC Commercial zone in the application?
The rezoning application covers ~913 acres total: ~710 acres proposed for I3 Intensive Industrial and quarry use, and ~203 acres proposed for SC Commercial zoning. SC Commercial is a less intensive designation that permits retail, office, and commercial uses. This commercial portion borders the IU Health Regional Campus currently under construction. The four heavy industrial operations — quarry, asphalt, concrete, and rail — are confined to the I3 and quarry zones. [US Aggregates / Allen County D]
Who owns the land and who is the developer?
The applicant is US Aggregates, a subsidiary of The Heritage Group based in Indianapolis. The land has been targeted for acquisition — the terms of any deal are not public. Details on filings are available through the Allen County Planning Services portal and the Application Documents page. [US Aggregates / Allen County D]
How long would the quarry operate?
Limestone quarries of this scale typically operate for 80–100 years — five or more generations of residents would live with the impacts before the site is exhausted. [Journal of Environmental Law &] This is a permanent, multi-generational commitment of the land.
Is this already approved?
No. The project requires a rezoning approval from Allen County. That process involves public hearings before the Allen County Plan Commission and potentially the Board of Zoning Appeals. No final decision has been made.
What is I3 Intensive Industrial zoning?
I3 is Allen County’s most permissive industrial zoning designation. It permits heavy uses including open-pit mining, quarrying, asphalt and concrete manufacturing, and rail infrastructure. The proposed site is currently zoned agricultural — the developer must secure I3 rezoning approval before any operations can begin. No such approval has been granted. [US Aggregates / Allen County D]
When was the last public hearing, and what was the outcome?
On May 26, 2026, the Allen County Board of Zoning Appeals held a joint public hearing at the War Memorial Coliseum. After nearly three hours of testimony, the BZA voted 4–0 to deny the special use variance (one member absent). The developer then withdrew their rezoning petition before the Plan Commission, which accepted the withdrawal in minutes. No approvals were issued. See the Timeline page for full details.
What happens at a rezoning hearing?
At a public hearing, the Plan Commission hears testimony from the applicant, county staff, and members of the public. They then make a recommendation. Residents have the right to speak, submit written comments, and be represented by legal counsel.
About the Impacts
How close is this to my neighborhood?
The proximity varies by location. See the Maps page for detailed spatial data on the site’s relationship to residential areas, schools, and hospitals.
Will this affect my drinking water?
Potentially. Large-scale quarry dewatering can lower regional water tables. Runoff from industrial operations can reach streams and groundwater. We are monitoring available hydrology and water quality data — see Science & Data.
What happens to the wetlands and the Little River?
The acquisition target includes wetland areas along the Little River. Open-pit quarry dewatering — pumping groundwater out to enable mining — can permanently alter the water table that sustains wetland hydrology. Wetlands provide flood control, water filtration, and critical wildlife habitat. Once drained and mined, these ecosystems cannot be meaningfully restored on a human timescale.
Will there be blasting?
Limestone quarries typically use controlled blasting to break rock. Blasting causes noise, ground vibration, and can produce flyrock and dust. Indiana has regulations governing blasting near occupied structures, but enforcement and distance setbacks vary.
What are the air quality concerns?
The proposed operations would generate multiple overlapping air quality risks: limestone and silica dust from open-pit blasting and crushing, volatile organic compounds and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from two asphalt plants, and heavy diesel exhaust from equipment and hundreds of daily truck trips.
The World Health Organization’s 2021 Air Quality Guidelines set the annual PM2.5 safe threshold at 5 µg/m³ — less than half the U.S. EPA legal limit of 12 µg/m³. WHO concludes there is no safe level of PM2.5 exposure. Crystalline silica is classified by the WHO/IARC as a Group 1 carcinogen — the highest classification. OSHA’s workplace limits were designed for adult workers over an 8-hour workday, not for children breathing outdoor air around the clock.
Children face heightened risk because their lungs are still developing and they breathe approximately 50% more air per kilogram of body weight than adults. Elderly residents face greater cardiovascular and pulmonary risk from even brief PM2.5 spikes. Lafayette Meadows Elementary School and an IU Health campus are both within the impact zone. See Science & Data for full citations.
What about truck traffic?
A quarry and associated industrial complex of this scale would generate hundreds of heavy truck trips per day on local roads. This affects road conditions, traffic safety, noise, and air quality on truck routes.
Will this lower my property value?
Research consistently shows that industrial facilities like quarries reduce residential property values within a defined radius. See Science & Data for citations.
About the Alliance
Who is No Quarry on Homestead?
We are residents, parents, healthcare workers, educators, and neighbors who care about the future of the Little River Valley. We are not affiliated with any political party or commercial interest.
How is this funded?
Through community contributions. See our Take Action page for ways to support the campaign.
Do you have lawyers?
We are working with planning and legal consultants. If you are an attorney with relevant expertise and wish to assist, please contact us.
Is this about stopping all development?
No. We support responsible development that is compatible with the health, safety, and character of Southwest Allen County. We oppose industrial development that poses unacceptable risks to air quality, water quality, wetlands, and quality of life.
Which organizations officially oppose the quarry?
The opposition includes IU Health, the Southwest Allen County Schools (SACS) Board of School Trustees, neighborhood homeowner associations, and thousands of community members. Candidates for office and sitting elected officials have also taken public positions. See the full list at Supporters.
How to Get Involved
How do I sign up to receive updates?
Contact us at noquarryonhomestead@gmail.com to be added to the mailing list.
How do I sign the petition?
The community petition is on Change.org — search “No to Industrial Facilities and Quarry in the Little River Valley” or find the direct link on the Take Action page.
How do I speak at a public hearing?
See the Take Action page for guidance on public testimony.
Can I volunteer?
Yes. We need help with outreach, research, meeting logistics, and communications. Contact us to get involved.