Paul Boaz raises a sign opposing plans for an asphalt plant to be located along Slippery Rock Creek. He and a group of kayakers spent part of Saturday on the creek in opposition to the proposed plant. The planned facility is to be located on a property along the creek in Slippery Rock Township.

SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Groups of kayakers paddled in Slippery Rock Creek Saturday to raise awareness and raise money for a legal challenge to a proposed asphalt plant along the creek on Stoughton Road.

Food and Water Watch — a national advocate that backs grassroots efforts to support clean water, safe food and livable climate initiatives — organized the float-in to support the Save Slippery Rock Creek group's efforts to oppose the plant project.

“We came on board to support Save Slippery Rock Creek. They have been doing most of the organizing and outreach,” said Robin Martin of Food and Water Watch. “We held a float-in to support the creek and rally against building a cold asphalt plant on questionably zoned property that directly abuts the creek and would discharge carcinogenic wastewater directly into the creek.”

In January, the township zoning hearing board granted a special exception to Heilman Pavement Specialties to building the plant. The exception would allow the plant to operate as a heavy industry on the property, which is zoned for light industry. The zoning was changed from rural conservation to light industrial in June.

Residents successfully sued the zoning hearing board because its meeting was held online, limiting public participation. A judge ordered the meeting be held again to allow for in-person participation. That meeting is scheduled for Nov. 22, Martin said.Both groups want people opposed to the plant to attend that meeting and an Oct. 27 zoning hearing board meeting in which zoning change is being appealed, she said.“This zoning is being brought into question because it's spot zoning,” Martin said.It is considered spot zoning because the zoning of only the 14-acre property where the plant would be built was changed, and the surrounding property remains zoned as rural conservation, she said.After the float-in, the kayakers and other supporters gathered in Rock Falls Park for a cookout.

Pam Harding raises a sign opposing plans for an asphalt plant to be located on a property along Slippery Rock Creek on Saturday.