J7 Ready Mix of Alvarado lost its bid for an air quality permit to build a concrete batch between Burleson and Mansfield, in unincorporated Tarrant County.
Bob Booth
Bob Booth
A grassroots group of residents who fought a years-long battle against a concrete batch plant locating near their homes and schools won a major victory Wednesday, Oct. 21, when the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality ruled to dismiss an air quality permit that would have allowed the company to build the plant.
The permit application from J7 Ready Mix was denied with prejudice during a hearing in Austin. J7 Ready Mix of Alvarado had applied for an air quality permit to build a concrete batch plant at 5428 East FM 1187, between Burleson and Mansfield, in unincorporated Tarrant County.
Brandon McElroy, who founded the nonprofit Green Air Solutions to lead the fight against J7, said in an interview that the denial was a decisive win.
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The permit was denied with prejudice, which means that J7 cannot build in that location. The location is 600 feet from a future intermediate school and 2,600 feet from a future high school in the Mansfield school district.
McElroy lives on a quiet cul-de-sac near Rendon, between Mansfield and Burleson.
Stop the Ready Mix Facebook group posted on its Facebook page: “This fight was never just about one concrete plant. It was about protecting our families, our property, our air quality, and the future of our community.”
In September of 2023, McElroy grew curious about a building that was under construction near his backyard.
He started digging and investigating and learned the company did not follow the proper procedures for publishing public notices and for providing a copy of the permit application for the public to see.
Tarrant County Fire Marshal Randy Renois told the Star-Telegram at the time that the company began construction without a building permit.
McElroy said that he and his neighbors held fundraisers to pay their legal costs, which are now approximately $100,000.
He also said that Rep. David Cook of Mansfield was instrumental in helping residents by finding locations for auctions and providing other support.
Although McElroy said the fight against J7 is over, he is now dealing with a steel company that purchased land behind his home to build an I-beam plant.
“At this point, you might as well move in to the city,” he said.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
With my guide dog Freddie, I keep tabs on growth, economic development and other issues in Northeast Tarrant cities and other communities near Fort Worth. I’ve been a reporter at the Star-Telegram for 34 years.