County to grant permits to U.S. 21 rock quarry

After receiving an opinion from special counsel and former county attorney Ed Woltz on the matter, Alleghany County will be granting building and other permits to Alleghany Stone LLC on Arbor Lane off U.S. 21. The company plans to operate a stone quarry on an existing site there, said Chris Barrett, one of the new owners.

The matter was brought before the board after County Manager Don Adams sought a legal opinion as to whether the quarry had vested rights to open. The county's High Impact Land Use/Polluting Industries Ordinance regulates quarry and mining operations. However, the quarry in question was determined to have vested rights because it existed prior to the ordinance and has kept its permits from the state current and valid.

The owner listed on state permits for Bullhead Stone Quarry was Calvin A. Mellott. Adams said Monday night that Barrett and James Woodruff are purchasing the quarry property and plan to open it in the near future, based on documents and information he has received. Adams said he was told that Barrett hopes to compete for state bids.

Barrett said in an interview Tuesday that Mellott is the owner of Bullhead Stone Quarry and that he and Woodruff agreed to buy the assets of the company. That purchase is expected to be completed soon.

The quarry site consists of an 80-acre tract and the associated permits to operate the quarry.

 

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