By The News Reporter
The Columbus County Planning Board Tuesday night received, but took no action on, an application for rezoning a parcel of land at 2085 Georgia Pacific Rd. to allow construction of an asphalt plant. If the rezoning eventually is approved, it would mark the second time in two years that land has been rezoned for an asphalt plant in the same general area, and several nearby property owners voiced opposition during the public comments portion of Tuesday’s meeting.
The planning board will make findings at its March 25 meeting about whether the rezoning would be consistent with the county’s land use plan, whether it would be reasonable and whether it would be in the public interest. The board will forward the recommendations to the county commissioners, who will have final say on whether the property is rezoned.
Lumberton-based TACA Equipment Company wants its 15.18-acre parcel rezoned from general use to heavy industrial, which would permit an asphalt plant. Company Vice President Charlie Andrews said in a letter to County Planner Samantha Alsup, “We have plans for future growth which includes installation of a railroad spur and possibility (sic) of the construction of a ready-mix concrete plant or asphalt plant. TACA is requesting the same opportunities that exist across and down the street that others already have. This location was picked due to the railroad (R.J. Corman) being in our front yard.”
Andrews’ mention of the “same opportunities” enjoyed by others referred to the fact that in mid-2018, county commissioners in a 4-3 split vote rezoned property owned by Dial and Betty Gray to allow Barnhill Construction to build an asphalt plant, despite hearing from several residents of the community who opposed that zoning change. The TACA property and the proposed Barnhill asphalt plant, which is not yet in operation, are in close proximity to each other.
The planning board’s findings next month on the TACA request eventually will end up before the county commissioners, who would have to hold a public hearing on the matter before taking any action.
In other action Tuesday, the planning board voted unanimously to recommend to the board of adjustment that two special use permits (SUPs) be granted. The board of adjustment will consider those requests at their March 17 meeting.
Cox Composting is seeking an SUP that would allow composting on an 80-acre at 1176 Shug Norris Rd., Tabor City. The current use of the property is agricultural. Jonathan Kyle Cox made application for the SUP, in which he said granting of the request would not result in any unpleasant odors, heavy traffic or contaminate any soil or air. The area is not located in a flood plain. He also said composting on the site will not injure the values of adjoining land.
The planning board also recommended the modification of another SUP for Trojan Solar on property owned by Kenneth and Tilda Myers at 26481 E. Andrew Jackson Hwy in Delco. The board of adjustments previously approved an SUP for a solar farm encompassing the entire 46.9-acre parcel, but Trojan Solar wants to scale back the size of the solar farm and the new SUP recommended Tuesday night would reduce the size by four acres.
The Columbus County Planning Board Tuesday night received an application for rezoning a parcel of land at 2085 Georgia Pacific Rd. to allow construction of an asphalt plant.