City delays concrete plant's plans
By Barbara Arntsen
Published in News on January 5, 2005 2:05 PM
A decision on whether to allow a concrete plant to be built on Central Heights Road was postponed Monday by the City Council.
Goldsboro Planning Director Randy Guthrie recommended giving S&W Concrete Co. more time to respond to additional requirements by the city.
S&W Ready Mix Co., based in Clinton, submitted a plan for a concrete plant on Central Heights Road in early December. The property was rezoned in 2000 from residential to industry, despite opposition from several property owners. The 5.4-acre site is on the south side of Central Heights Road between the road and the railroad tracks.
In late December the council held a public hearing on the company's request for a special use district to operate the plant.
Citing concerns about traffic, dust and noise, two citizens urged the council to place stringent requirements on a proposed concrete plant.
City Attorney Tim Finan told the council that it couldn't deny the company the right to build the plant, because the area was zoned for a concrete plant, but it could set strict, but reasonable, requirements for its development and operation.
S&W proposes to have an office, a dust collector, recycling and clean-out area, storage area, a mix and containment area, and an inspection platform in the complex. The plant will have an eight-foot-tall concrete wall surrounding it, with openings every 20 feet to allow for drainage.
The state Transportation Department is also requiring that the company install a right turn lane into the property on Central Heights Road.
The company wants permission to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Stormwater calculations have been submitted to the city, but the city's engineering department said that extensive revisions to the stormwater plan would be necessary.
The Planning Commission set some additional requirements for the company at its December meeting. They included planting more shrubs and trees outside the proposed concrete wall, for screening purposes.
Company representatives said the plant would only operate on a 24-hour basis during peak times. The city staff recommended that the hours of operation be less than 24 on a regular basis, but said the plant could occasionally extend its hours.
In addition, the staff recommended that a right-turn deceleration lane also be provided, along with the center turn lane required by the state.
Guthrie said that because of the holidays, the company has not had time to address the additional requirements.`
The council agreed to delay a decision on the special use permit until its next meeting on Jan. 18.
Other business
In other matters, the council did the following:
*Appointed Michelle Daw to serve as city clerk.
*Denied a rezoning request from Sidney Barfield to rezone the west side of Wayne Memorial Drive between Best Avenue and Tommy's Road from residential to neighborhood business.
*Approved a rezoning request from Carlo Cook to rezone Royall Avenue between Wayne Memorial Drive and Jefferson Avenue from residential to neighborhood business.
*Denied a rezoning request from Jackson Builders to rezone the southeast corner of North Berkeley Boulevard and Ridgecrest Drive from residential to general business.
*Approved a request for a special use permit to operate a used-car lot on the south side of U.S. 70 East Ash Street Extension and Millers Chapel Road.
*Approved a request from Donald Faison for a special use permit, allowing him to operate a used-car lot on the corner of East Ash Street and Daisy Street.