Westroc, Inc., a leading supplier of ready-mix concrete, has announced it will leave Pleasant Grove later this year.

The company will relocate its central batching facilities to American Fork, ultimately taking away one of Pleasant Grove's major economic players.

The company recently purchased property east of the Interstate 15 Pleasant Grove interchange, said Ron Ash vice president of sales.

"Unfortunately, we have began to feel crowded on the north end with all of the new condominiums and so we felt the time might be right to move to a location that is more suited to industrial," Ash said. "This new location will also bring us a little closer to the freeway, providing easier access for our company."

Since 1987, Westroc has served both commercial and residential users with ready-mixed concrete from seven batching plants in Utah, Juab, Sanpete, Sevier and Salt Lake counties.

Westroc grossed over $30 million in sales last year and continues to be a major supplier to many projects in Utah County, including a power plant at the former Geneva Steel site, Midtown Village in Orem, and construction work in Provo Canyon, Ash said.

Strong economic growth in Utah Valley has triggered Westroc's success, he said.

"The excessive demand for ready-mix concrete has been in an upward swing the last 18 months," he said. "These are unprecedented times, and we have never seen anything like this along the Wasatch Front. The demand is exceeding our supply."

Ash said the company recently invested in a new corporate office structure adjacent to its facility at 670 W. 220 South in Pleasant Grove and will not move those offices.

"We understand that this is a substantial loss to the city of Pleasant Grove," Ash said. "Our company has always had a great relationship with Pleasant Grove city officials, and we have always felt they were a proponent of ours."

Local developer John Ogden had agreed to purchase 11 acres of Westroc property in Pleasant Grove for a housing subdivision, contingent upon the City Council rezoning the land from industrial to residential.

But at a recent meeting, council members denied the request.

Other developers are now considering the property, Ash said.

"We don't have any hard and fast deadlines for setup of the new facility in American Fork, but we are anticipating the changeover will take place some time in the first quarter of 2007," Ash said. "We will have the new facility up and running before we close down operations in Pleasant Grove."

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D5.