SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (WHNT) — The Scottsboro Planning Commission held a meeting Tuesday night to vote on rezoning 40 acres of land for a rock quarry coming to town.
Their vote would not rezone the property, but solidify their recommendation to send to the city council.
The rezoning request comes after Lambert Contracting LLC., owners of the new quarry coming to town, requested that land on US Highway 72 just west of Porter Road be changed to an M-2, a Heavy Manufacturing District. It is currently zoned as C-3 and AR, a Central Business District and an Agriculture District.
The vote ended in a tie, 3 to 3, with one member abstaining.
City leaders say the rock quarry can still operate on the land, whether it is rezoned or not. Lambert Contracting LLC. has already broken ground on the property in preparation for construction. Owner Cody Lambert said the quarry will bring revenue and jobs to the area.
“This quarry will directly create 10 to 15 well-paying, full-time career opportunities from equipment operators, site managers, with an economic impact of over $1 million per year annually in payroll,” Lambert said.
Some Scottsboro residents feel that those positives do not outweigh the negatives a rock quarry can bring to a community.
“Scottsboro needs jobs, but not this kind,” A concerned resident said. “Because 15 jobs ain’t worth destroying everybody else’s life.”
Those who oppose the quarry brought up concerns regarding blasting impacts, environmental hazards, and the road integrity of US 72 with such heavy machinery and equipment operating on it. They also voiced concerns about air pollution and decreasing property values, just to name a few.
One man was brought to tears when telling the commission about the damage the Vulcan quarry has done to his property.
“The house was seven years old, nothing wrong with it anywhere,” Another concerned resident said. “But, over the years, I felt the tremors from the blasts from Vulcan. My walls are cracked, my foundation is cracked. And I went to see how much it costs to redo the foundation, and they want $40,000.”
The Vulcan quarry is just down the road from the construction site in the same area and has operated for years. The two sites being so close to one another is a major point of contention for locals.
Those in favor of the quarry argue that the existing quarries in the area have not done significant damage and have been around for quite a while. They added that bringing revenue, resources and jobs closer to home is a plus.
“Has Vulcan had a lifetime of problems since they started?” A resident asked. “You know, the city has owned this for a reason, because that is the corridor for our industry and our manufacturing.”
“It’s not in the middle of the subdivision, the subdivision is on the other side of the mountain,” Another resident in favor of the quarry said. “It’s not the 50s and 60s anymore where you’re slinging dynamite around and running up to the wood, lumber company and buying dynamite. You know, this stuff is so highly regulated.”
News 19 reached out to Lambert Contracting LLC. Tuesday for a statement, and was told no one could speak on the issue.
The Planning Commission will send this vote to the Scottsboro City Council which will discuss the rezoning at its work session Jon une 16.
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