HHI Trucking will be allowed to build and operate a concrete batch plant along Dark Hollow Road in Oakmont despite opposition by nearby property owners.

Oakmont Council voted unanimously at Monday's meeting to accept the conditional use application from HHI, owned by Anthony Folino.

However, HHI must follow a list of more than 30 conditions exactly to run the concrete plant, Oakmont council members said.

The conditions address legitimate concerns presented to council by residents in a series of hearings beginning late last year, borough solicitor Shawn Gallagher said.

"We tried to strike a fair balance between residents' concerns and Mr. Folino's right to conduct business," he said.

A group of residents hired a lawyer to help state their case that the concrete plant's operations will cause air pollution, noise problems and changes in stormwater flow, as well as damage to the narrow Dark Hollow Road.

The plant may operate only between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. Deliveries must be made during that time, and cement may be delivered no more than once per week, council members said.

Dust must be controlled by wetting down materials on dry days.

HHI must provide a 40-foot-wide conservation easement to be dedicated to the borough and may not change stormwater runoff.

HHI will be "at risk" and release the borough from liability for future floodplain modifications.

Diesel vehicles must be equipped with particulate filters and may not idle longer than 15 minutes.

Jim Parsons, a resident who opposed the plant, said he appreciated council's decision to include the diesel-related conditions he recommended.

HHI must hire an expert to conduct annual air quality studies that meet Allegheny County air standards, council members said.

Before beginning operation, the plant must be surrounded by trees and shrubs specified by the borough.

HHI vehicles accessing the property must have noiseless backup alarms.

Hoppers must be lined with rubber and dampened before use. Piston and electric vibrators for the hoppers are not permitted.

HHI also may not use the drum chipping method to clean trucks, which was a big concern of residents.

Within three months of operation, HHI must hire a sound consultant to perform a post-construction noise study.

No commercial vehicles will be allowed on New London Lane, and Folino must pay for roadway improvements to widen all of Dark Hollow Road.

Some residents expressed concerns the conditions won't be enforced once the plant is in place.

Parsons said he looked at the decision as a win for Oakmont residents, but he didn't like council's actions Monday when he asked that council describe the conditions to the public before the vote.

Gallagher told residents they could peruse conditions in writing after the meeting.

Residents were particularly happy to hear Folino is required to improve Dark Hollow Road.

"I'm glad he's responsible for Dark Hollow Road so taxpayers don't have to foot the bill," Parsons said.

The concrete plant is planned for a 3.2-acre site along Plum Creek owned by Folino.

The borough's findings of fact and conclusions of law document, which includes all conditions, is available to the public at the borough building on Fifth Street.

In other Oakmont news:

• PennDOT will begin a small paving job on Hulton Road over the weekend.

Milling will begin Sunday, and paving will start Wednesday.

The work is expected to take about a week and is necessary to fix spots that were not up to PennDOT's standards from last year's paving project, council members said.

n Council's next meeting will be on July 14 at the borough building, at 7:30 p.m.