Jesse Macklin, left, and Robbie Venus paddle down Slippery Rock Creek in McConnells Mill State Park.

The Slippery Rock Township Zoning Hearing Board will meet Sept. 29 to review a request by Heilman Pavement Specialties Inc. to build an asphalt mixing plant at 490 Stoughton Road.

The request was first approved by the township supervisors late last year. The zoning hearing board gave it a special exception to operate as a heavy industry facility, according to the township's zoning ordinance, on Jan. 12, despite the property being rezoned for light industry last year.

However, a few township residents successfully sued the zoning hearing board in July, appealing that the virtual meeting format did not provide an adequate environment for people to interpret the request of Heilman Pavement Specialties.

“It was about the due process,” said Chris Coleman, an appellant in the lawsuit who lives on New Castle Road. “The judge said we didn't have anywhere near our rights of due process to thoroughly review the plan to have our chance to speak, and that we didn't have proper representation.”

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Local whitewater kayaker Matt Pascal of Pittsburgh paddles up stream on Slippery Rock Creek, below McConnells Mill, Friday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 12/11/20

Jesse Macklin turns downstream kayaking through McConnells Mill Wednesday. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 10/21/20