Among the plaintiffs in a legal battle against a proposed rock quarry near the north Alabama community of Belle Mina is New Heaven Cumberland Presbyterian Church, a congregation of Huntsville Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America. The church, pastored by the Rev. Walter J. Jones, Sr., is located on Garrett Road, less than half a mile from the proposed quarry site.
The case, which will be heard Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in Limestone County Circuit Court, aims to determine whether the quarry’s landowners can be named as defendants. Plaintiffs include New Heaven, New Beginnings Covenant Ministries, Belle Mina Methodist Church, Jerusalem Primitive Baptist Church, and three local residents.
The defendants—Stoned LLC, Grayson Carter & Son Contracting, Elephants R Us, and Landquest Properties LLC—face opposition over environmental and quality-of-life concerns. Residents allege the quarry has already disrupted their lives with dust, noise, and light from near-continuous operations, and they fear the site will further impact property values, water quality, and public health, particularly that of local children.
In particular, plaintiffs worry the quarry will pollute Limestone Creek, deplete groundwater, and damage roads, homes, and churches—including historic and low-income properties central to the Belle Mina community. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) has already approved air and water discharge permits for the project, despite opposition from residents and environmental advocates, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Auburn University researchers.
Community leaders, including those from New Heaven Cumberland Presbyterian Church, remain steadfast in their opposition, urging the court to halt further development.
