Vincent officials have set a public hearing on White Rock Quarries’ request to rezone property intended for a proposed limestone quarry.

The public hearing will be at 6 p.m. Jan. 26 at Vincent Middle/High School.

Vincent Mayor Ray McAllister said he sees the hearing as an opportunity for residents to speak their minds.

“The hearing is set to give the citizens a chance to make any comments that they would like,” he said. “It’s for them to tell us what they want, basically.”

Charles Cantrell of the Vincent Historical and Environmental Society said he expects Vincent citizens to tell town officials they do not want a quarry.

“The majority of the citizens of Vincent do not want a rock quarry,” Cantrell said. “I hope that our elected representatives will follow the desires of the majority of the citizens and not rezone the land.”

White Rock spokesperson Stephen Bradley said White Rock will have representatives at the hearing, but their plan is to sit and listen.

“It’s a planning commission hearing. It’s their show. We will certainly be there and we will have our experts available,” Bradley said. “We will respond to what the commission wants us to do.”

The zoning request would rezone the 886 acres of land from rural agricultural to a special district zoning status. Bradley said Vincent will benefit from the special district zoning status because it will allow the town to impose specific conditions on the land.

“White Rock will be required to operate the quarry in compliance with the terms and conditions of that specific zoning ordinance, and if White Rock does not operate the quarry within those guidelines, then the town of Vincent could suspend their zoning status,” Bradley said.

After the hearing, the issue will go back to Vincent’s planning commission, which will decide whether to approve the zoning request. The commission will then make a recommendation to the town council.