Business Supporters — No Quarry on Homestead

Dear Members of the Allen County Plan Commission and Allen County Commissioners,

I am writing to express strong opposition to the proposed quarry and associated industrial development planned for southwest Fort Wayne, particularly near the residential communities of Sierra Ridge, Aurora Coves, Calera Coves, Azbury Park, and Azbury Woods.Residents throughout southwest Fort Wayne and Allen County have raised serious and well-founded concerns regarding this proposal, including potential impacts to groundwater and private wells, air quality from particulate and silica dust, increased heavy truck traffic, and noise and vibration associated with quarry operations. The proposed site’s close proximity to established neighborhoods, schools, wetlands, and major healthcare facilities raises significant questions about land-use compatibility and long-term public health and safety.

These neighborhoods represent substantial residential investment and are home to families who chose this area for its quality of life, environmental character, and sense of community. An industrial-scale quarry would permanently alter that character and place an unfair burden on nearby homeowners while offering limited direct benefit to those most impacted. Importantly, opposition to this project is not isolated — neighborhood associations, school officials, healthcare leaders, and the Fort Wayne City Council have all publicly expressed serious concerns or outright opposition, reflecting the breadth and consistency of community sentiment.

I respectfully urge county decision-makers to reject this proposal and to prioritize development that aligns with comprehensive planning principles, protects existing residential areas, and safeguards environmental and public health resources. Economic development should enhance our community — not undermine established neighborhoods and the quality of life they provide.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I ask that you stand with the residents of southwest Fort Wayne and deny approval of this proposed quarry development.

Sincerely, Charles S. Giese Division President

I am writing to express my opposition to the proposed quarry and associated industrial uses based on what I see every day working directly with buyers and sellers in this market. In southwest Fort Wayne, buyers are extremely selective, and location factors drive decisions as much as the house itself. When I am showing homes, buyers routinely ask about nearby uses—traffic, noise, future development, and anything that could affect their quality of life or resale value. If there is something perceived as negative, it becomes the focus immediately.

Uses like a quarry—with blasting, truck traffic, dust, and large industrial structures—are among the most difficult conditions to overcome in a residential sale. In my experience, once a buyer becomes aware of something like this nearby, the showing is effectively over. They either cut the showing short or they move on to another property entirely.

This is not just about a potential reduction in value. The bigger issue is that homes become significantly harder to sell at all.

This quarry is inexcusable. We cannot allow a quarry so close to our homes, hospitals and schools.

Dropping a quarry into the area Heritage is proposing is a terrible idea.

Our research team is convinced it would damage thousands of families, depressing their home values, which are their primary source of retirement savings, by as much as $1.2 billion dollars, in order to profit a few individuals who are currently living out of town or likely to move. This alone is enough to condemn the proposal as a wholesale failure to uphold Hoosier values.

We are blessed here in Northern Indiana with some of the nicest places to raise a family in America. Our neighborhoods are nice because we care about our hospitals, schools, churches, and neighbors. Any initiative that threatens children should be condemned immediately.

We believe the architects of the proposal should be ashamed of this attempt. They have not only proposed it, but lobbied for it aggressively. In our opinion, they know it is wrong.

We strongly urge our politicians and commissioners to strike down the quarry attempt for good.

Our advice to Heritage & their local sponsors: re-assess your commitment to family. No amount of money is worth damaging your neighbors.

My name is Heather Regan, and I am writing to you today on behalf of the Regan Ferguson Group to formally voice our unwavering opposition to the proposed quarry in the Little River Valley.

As a prominent women-owned business in Allen County, we take immense pride in our role as community pillars and economic drivers. Our mission at Regan Ferguson Group is to provide an unparalleled real estate experience through authentic connection and expert advocacy. Since our founding, we have successfully guided thousands of families through the most significant financial decisions of their lives. Our success is built on a deep understanding of Southwest Allen County — not just as a market, but as a community defined by its natural beauty, its tranquility, and its high quality of life.

The Little River Valley is a cornerstone of this community’s identity. Historically, this area has served as a vital environmental buffer and a scenic backdrop for some of Fort Wayne’s most desirable residential developments. The valley’s history is one of conservation and careful growth, a balance that has allowed Southwest Allen County to become the premier destination for homeowners in the region.

As real estate professionals, our business is rooted in the “Connection with Community.” We don’t just sell houses; we sell the promise of a peaceful, safe, and stable environment. The placement of a heavy industrial quarry in the heart of this residential corridor is a direct violation of that promise.

Based on market data and historical trends in areas where industrial land use encroaches on residential zones, we anticipate the following impacts:

• Home Values: Properties within the immediate vicinity and the secondary sound/traffic radius of a quarry typically see an immediate and significant decline in equity. Potential buyers view industrial proximity as a “permanent defect” that no amount of renovation can fix.
• Time to Sell: “Days on Market” will skyrocket. Even in a high-demand area like Southwest Allen, buyers are increasingly selective. The prospect of blasting, silica dust, and constant heavy truck traffic creates an insurmountable barrier to entry for families.
• Overall Desirability: The allure of Southwest Allen County is its “quiet luxury” and proximity to nature. A quarry transforms a serene valley into a permanent industrial scar, fundamentally altering the character of the neighborhood and discouraging the long-term investment that keeps our community thriving.

We have spent years building a reputation for protecting our clients’ interests and championing the growth of this county. Approving this quarry would be an act of gross negligence toward the thousands of homeowners who have invested their life savings into this valley.

We demand that the Board prioritize the well-being of its citizens over industrial expansion. We urge you to reject this proposal in its entirety. Do not allow the short-term gains of a single industrial entity to dismantle the decades of careful planning and the billions of dollars in residential property value that define Southwest Allen County. Protect our valley, protect our homes, and vote “No” on this special exception.