GREELEY — Eight neighbors of an asphalt-concrete plant approved for land east of Loveland have sued Weld County over its approval of the project.

The county commissioners were served with the lawsuit Tuesday, according to a press release from the coalition of homeowners and businesses opposing Martin Marietta Materials’ facility.

The release said the suit was filed in Weld County District Court.

The commissioners had unanimously approved a use by special review permit for the project Aug. 12 after a 13 ½ -hour hearing at which the opponents and their experts cited a long list of objections to the proposal.

The facility was to be built on 133 acres of leased agricultural land south of U.S. 34 and east of Weld County Road 13.

In the press release, the plaintiffs repeated their contention that the industrial operation on the property would be incompatible with the agricultural and residential uses of surrounding areas.

Their concerns include health effects from dust, the smell of asphalt, the impact of 1,000 to 2,000 truck trips a day on the county roads and U.S. 34, noise from the operations and from the trains that would unload materials on an oval loop track, visual impact and effect on property values.

“If the proposal moves forward, it will dramatically infringe upon the property rights of nearby single-family homeowners and is expected to force many surrounding businesses, including an organic farm and a wedding and event venue, to close or relocate,” the release said.

“The lawsuit seeks the reversal of the commissioners’ approval and a declaration that Martin Marietta Materials’ proposed use is unlawful under the prevailing land use regulations,” the release said.

The proposal had met with opposition from the Weld County planning staff and Planning Commission before it went to the Weld County Commission.

Before approving the proposal, the commissioners imposed on Martin Marietta about 40 conditions for approval and another 55 or so development standards aimed at mitigating impacts of the industrial operation on its neighbors.

Weld County representatives were unavailable for comment at press time.

Craig Young: 970-635-3634, cyoung@reporter-herald.com, www.twitter.com/CraigYoungRH.