Proposed Quarry Raises Dust Concerns in Vermont Town

Residents of Morristown, VT anxiously await permit decision on industrial park and quarry project.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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A years-long battle over plans for an industrial park and quarry on farmland across Route 100 from the Morrisville-Stowe State Airport has anxious residents in Morristown, Vermont holding their breath for a permit decision due any day. The quarry is part of local businessman Garret Hirchak's plan to build a sprawling campus of 26 industrial buildings on what is now 89 acres of cornfields and forest.

Why it matters

The proposed quarry has raised concerns among residents about the potential health impacts of hazardous dust from the mining operations, especially given the project's proximity to the local airport and residential areas.

The details

Hirchak's plan calls for converting the farmland into an industrial park with 26 buildings. A three-member state Act 250 land-use review panel must now weigh the project's environmental impacts before deciding whether to grant the necessary permits.

  • The proposed quarry and industrial park project has been in the works for several years.

The players

Garret Hirchak

A local businessman who has proposed the industrial park and quarry project on farmland in Morristown, Vermont.

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What they’re saying

“A years-long battle over plans for an industrial park and quarry on farmland across Route 100 from the Morrisville-Stowe State Airport has anxious residents holding their breath for a permit decision due any day.”

— Darren Perron (WCAX)

What’s next

The three-member state Act 250 land-use review panel is expected to make a decision on the project's permits in the coming days.

The takeaway

The proposed quarry has sparked concerns among Morristown residents about the potential health risks of hazardous dust from the mining operations, especially given the project's proximity to the local airport and residential areas. The community is anxiously awaiting the outcome of the state's environmental review process.