A temporary business permit for a concrete batch plant southeast of Lawrence received approval from the Douglas County Board of Commissioners Wednesday, despite opposition from nearby residents.

The board originally intended to vote on the matter a week ago, but nearly a dozen residents dissented, leading the commissioners to delay the vote and seek more information on the batch plant’s operation.

Residents were concerned that dust from the batch plant, to be located at 1535 North 1300 Road, would cause health issues and property damage. The commission then stipulated that the applicant, Emery Sapp & Sons Inc., draft a dust control plan to meet the approval of Keith Browning, the public works director.

The plan involves 12,000 gallons of water stored on site and the deployment of magnesium chloride. Browning approved the plan.

“It doesn’t totally eliminate dust, but it very significantly decreases the amount of dust,” Browning said at the meeting.

The board’s approval is also contingent upon an air quality test conducted by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said Commissioner Jim Flory, third district.

Additionally, the permit specifies that the batch plant can only operate between dawn and dusk. Linda Finger, the county’s planning resources coordinator, said the plant does not plan to operate more than 155 days of its 32-month lease, which ends in late November 2016.

The concrete from the plant will be used for the completion of the South Lawrence Trafficway project.