Cement mixing facility gets planning board approval

A cement mixing and distribution facility for Glade Valley Road got the green light from the planning board last week, but still lacks approval under the county's high impact/polluting industries ordinance. The facility, which is being planned by Stacy Evans, would be located near his home at 1214 Glade Creek School Road.

Ken Richardson, who currently serves as the chairman of both the planning board and the county commission, said that the matter was put on hold at an earlier planning board meeting by the former county commission. The move was made to allow the new commissioners to weigh in on the issue.

County Manager Don Adams noted that the proposed plant does not meet the requirements of the high impact/polluting industries ordinance, but that it could still be voted upon under the property rights protection ordinance. The plant cannot be built without an additional permit under the high impact/polluting industries ordinance, which requires easements on all protected structures, such as homes, schools and churches, within 2,000 feet of such a business.

That same ordinance also governs the location of asphalt plants and other facilities. Maymead Materials Inc. has filed a lawsuit against the county, saying that the polluting industries ordinance is invalid. A judge's ruling on that lawsuit is expected in the coming weeks. If the polluting industries ordinance is overturned, Evans could proceed immediately.

However, even if the county wins the suit, Commissioner Milly Richardson voiced a willingness at the planning board meeting to change that ordinance to help the cement plant to open.

Get the rest of this article in this week's issue of the Alleghany News! Back