BOCC says no to mine project

INVERNESS — Citrus County commissioners voted 4-1 Tuesday night against a proposed limerock mine near the historic Red Level Cemetery.

The vote followed an emotional four-hour public hearing as members of some of the county’s oldest families pleaded with commissioners to keep mining away from the resting grounds of their loved ones.

Commissioners Rebecca Bays and Joe Meek were caught up in the moment, as their voices cracked with emotion during the debate.

Nature Coast Mine LLC, headed by car dealer Steve Lamb, sought approval for a master plan on 150 acres of land zoned extractive, north of Crystal River.

The company wanted to vary from the requirement that mining occur 1,000 feet from neighboring properties. Nature Coast sought a 200-foot setback.

Commissioners Bays, Meek, John “JJ” Kenney and Winn Webb all said a mine was not compatible to the area. Kenney and Webb noted when Lamb bought the property, the setback from residential areas was 3,000 feet. Later, it was changed to 1,000 feet.

Webb said Lamb should have known even with 1,000-foot setbacks, the available land would not be profitable for mining.

“Knowing it was 1,000 feet would tell somebody it was too small,” he said.

Kenney agreed.

“He knew what he bought when he bought it,” he said.

While much of the opposition came from families with relatives in the cemetery, the land-use issue itself dealt with setbacks to residential property, not the cemetery. Still, a hearing officer recommended no mining within 400 feet of the cemetery and Nature Coast attorney Clark Stillwell offered no blasting within 500 feet of the cemetery.

The crowd of 100 people included members of multi-generational Crystal River families whose ancestors are buried at Red Level Cemetery, which dates back 150 years.

Roger Carol Dunn, a sixth-generation resident, recalled years of annual cleanup days in April followed by dinner on the grounds.

“We, who are native to Citrus County, have lost so much of our history,” she told commissioners. “You’re responsible for my heritage and to keep it safe.”

Commission Chairman Dennis Damato voted in favor of the master plan, saying Nature Coast had protections in place for residents and the cemetery.

Chronicle reporter Mike Wright can be reached at (352) 563-3228 or mwright@chronicleonline.com.