Out in semi-rural Ohio, I believe I was right outside of Burton, we saw a few signs down a road that said “No asphalt plants”.
I think they were yellow traffic signs that were diamond shaped, just like pedestrian crossing signs and such, but I may be incorrect on that, it’s been a while. But they were official-looking state signs.
What might this mean?
Current theories:
Telling prospective builders of manufacturing plants of asphalt to go away, as if someone would build a multimillion dollar factory overnight without checking with anyone.
Telling people not to dig through the road in order to plant leafy plants in the asphalt.
No… sculpting the asphalt on the road to create plant-like sculptures.
Anyone actually know what they mean?
I guess it could also mean: “Welcome to our city! Now 100% asphalt plant free!”
My WAGs:
Some kind of protest, raised by individuals concerned about traffic/pollution associated with a proposed industrial development.
or
A traffic restriction to the effect that a certain type of vehicle (an ‘Asphalt Plant’ - ‘plant’ in this case meaning heavy, but mobile site machinery) is not permitted to use a certain route.
There are proposals to place two asphalt plants outside Middlefield (the town due East of Burton that is the home of most of the light industry in Geauga County).
A number of local residents do not want the odor, expected air polution, and serious increase in heavy truck traffic that the plants will bring to the farmland surrounding the town. (Middlefield is, coincidentally, the region in the county having the most heavily industrialized town surrounded by the most extensively farmed (and not yet gone fallow waiting for new subdivisions) countryside.
The signs are all personal statements expressing opposition, regardless whether they are the numerous small black and white lawn signs or the two enormous “construction” signs that are located just West of Middlefield.
Other areas in Geauga that are being “threatened” by proposed asphalt plants are pursuing similar tactics.