April 17, 2023
Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
70 W. Hedding St.
San Jose, CA
RE: Items 20 and 21, 4/18/23 Board of Supervisors agenda
Dear President Ellenberg and Supervisors,
The undersigned organizations support the referrals by Supervisor Simitian concerning the Lehigh Southwest cement kiln and quarry site (items 20 and 21 on the April 18, 2023 Board of Supervisors agenda). Our organizations work to protect open space, nature, wildlife and plant species, and communities. We represent thousands of members in the County of Santa Clara.
A legally binding agreement to permanently shut down the Lehigh cement kiln is greatly needed. Although Lehigh has stated they have no intention of recommencing operations at the cement plant, as long as the plant exists and there is no agreement in place, nothing would prevent Lehigh from changing its mind and re-starting the cement kiln. Due to the negative environmental and health impacts of operations at the cement plant, the community deserves the security of a legally binding agreement to permanently end those operations.
Likewise, initiating discussions concerning the future of the Lehigh property is the next logical step. Restoration of this site will be a long-term undertaking, and with Lehigh’s operations apparently winding down, now is the time to begin to discuss how best to ensure that restoration happens and to agree on principles for that process. We support Supervisor Simitian’s referral for staff to begin developing a policy framework with the City of Cupertino regarding joint planning principles, and we urge the County to keep the eventual restoration of this site as the focus of those discussions.
Thank you for your consideration of these comments.
Sincerely,
Alice Kaufman, Policy and Advocacy Director
Green Foothills
James Eggers, Executive Director
Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter
Shani Kleinhaus, Environmental Advocate
Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society
Trish Mulvey, Founder
CLEAN South Bay