CHINO VALLEY, Ariz. — A Chino Valley resident successfully stopped a mine from opening in the middle of a neighborhood.
He purchased the land where the mine was set to be built.
Documents obtained by 12News confirm Cerroco LLC bought several parcels of land in the Cedar Heights neighborhood from Fortune Rock, LLC on Nov. 21.
"It just seemed like the right thing to do," Ted Del Cerro, the new owner, told 12News.
12News first reported on this story earlier this month as Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes took legal action to try and stop the mine.
People living near the proposed mine site said they were blindsided when public notices were posted on electrical poles in the neighborhood three months ago. Several told 12News they were concerned with noise and the environmental impacts.
The attorney general's office officially dropped their complaint on Nov. 29 after confirming the new owners of the land would not build a mine there.
Del Cerro told 12News he hasn't decided yet what he plans to do with the land, but can guarantee it will not become a mine.
People living just a few hundred feet from the proposed mine are thankful their peace and quiet are no longer in jeopardy.
"It was a shock," Danny Brumett said. "It's like, time to take a deep breath and rest for a bit because this has been a long haul."
Despite the victory for the community, they said their fight isn't over.
The neighborhood is asking Arizona lawmakers to revise a state statute that allows a mine to be exempt of any zoning ordinance.
“We know that there are other communities that are now battling similar situations and we want to be able to pay it forward," Susi Brumett said.
12News reached out to Rock Supply and Fortune Rock for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
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