Plans for a temporary concrete plant along Northwestern Highway in Farmington Hills have created a dust-up with several neighbors.

A plant plans to open temporarily on a vacant lot at 32680 Northwestern Highway between Middlebelt and 14 Mile roads to support concrete-laying repairs in the new Heritage Hill subdivision a few miles west in the city. But several people who live in the nearby condominiums, as well as a senior facility, recently spoke out against the plan at a recent planning commission meeting, saying it would negatively affect their way of life during the warmer months.

"We will all be directly affected if the cement plant moves in," said Seema Chackunkal, who lives in the nearby Country Glens condos. "We ask that the planning commission decline approval for this temporary cement batch plant."

The plant would be operated by Shelby Township-based Florence Cement and would operate this year only, wrapping up no later than mid-October. Steve Gregor with Florence Cement told the planning commission during its April 21 meeting they looked across the city for a suitable location. He said they previously operated along Drake north of Grand River the last two years, though another temporary concrete plant plans to occupy that property this year.

Because of rules that prohibit the import and export concrete from the city, Gregor said he looked all over to find a suitable space for the plant, including a location along Haggerty in nearby Commerce Township. Because of those rules, he could not open a plant there for a project in Farmington Hills.

He said while he understood it would be a hassle, he said they would do everything they could to limit the impact on the surrounding area.

"We're construction. We're going to create dust, we're going to make noise," he said. "We're going to do everything we can so that we're not this disruptive force."

Mitigation efforts would include using water to curb dust particles at the site, as well as only allowing the plant to operate at certain times of day.

Ellen Byrne, executive director of Anthology of Farmington Hills senior living facility, said the plant would be front-facing to several elderly residents and impact their ability to grab fresh air in the warmer months.

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"This is the only outdoor area for my memory care patients," she said. "I am all for progress and doing work, but it's too close to my seniors. I think this would be a big detriment to their lifestyle."

The planning commission voted unanimously to approve the plans to allow the temporary plant on the site during its meeting. 

Commissioner Barry Brickner said he lives not far from the location where the concrete plant on Drake has been in recent years. Originally believing it would cause a problem, he said he soon realized the plant was not as disruptive as he originally expected.

"I was concerned about the noise. I was concerned about the dust," Brickner said. "And I can tell you I didn't even know when they were operating."

Contact reporter David Veselenak at dveselenak@hometownlife.com or 734-678-6728. Follow him on Twitter @davidveselenak.