|
Salisbury City Council reversed itself Tuesday and moved to rezone Inman Asphalt’s property on Jake Alexander Boulevard to prevent it from future expansions and making a stinky problem worse.
Council will ask the Salisbury Planning Board to consider rezoning the Inman site from heavy industrial (M-2) to general business (B-6). The new zoning would make Inman’s liquid asphalt terminal a non-conforming use, prohibiting any future expansions.
Council shunned a similar request from Elizabeth Ruth 16 months ago to downzone the Inman operation. Instead, it supported the company’s efforts to eliminate the smells that residents describe as noxious and health-threatening.
Councilman Bill Burgin said the city was patient with Inman, but he characterized the end result as nothing beyond a Band-Aid solution.
“We regret that our attempt was not as effective as it should have been,” Burgin said.
Council voted 5-0 to seek the planners’ recommendation on a downzoning.
Richard Kelly, head of risk management, said the city received 71 complaints about odors from Inman that it turned over to the state Division of Air Quality office in Mooresville.
Kelly said Inman presently stands in compliance with its Division of Air Quality permit, but he added that it’s obvious from visits that the odors remain strong and an ongoing problem.
Kelly also noted that officials have never concluded whether the stinky fumes from the plant are harmful to people’s health or merely an annoyance for the nearby residents.
“We have a problem out there,” said Mitch Reinheardt, co-chairman with Ruth of Rowan Citizens Against Pollution. “We’ve had a problem, and we don’t want to see it continue.”
The citizens group formed in October to address the odors from the liquid asphalt terminal, a high number of cancer cases close to this industrial area and evidence of groundwater contamination.
Reinheardt said the group either wants “zero emissions” from Inman or the plant’s total shutdown.
Besides asking for a downzoning, the group pressed council to investigate whether Inman complied with all of its past and present permits. It also called for the city to put pressure on state and federal agencies for more environmental tests of the two asphalt operations and tank farm in this section of Jake Alexander Boulevard.
If any expansion at the Inman (Associated Asphalt) terminal would be allowed, it should only be for equipment to control the odors, the group added.
A large contingent in support of the downzoning attended council’s meeting.
Mayor Pro Tem Paul Woodson said he was surprised that after 71 complaints, neither the state nor the company has taken more action. Woodson suggested that large carbon absorbers could fix the odor problem at Inman.
Mayor Susan Kluttz said the company assured council in the past that the air pollution problem would be stopped.
“We’ve given them a year and a half, which is plenty of time,” Kluttz said.
Kluttz described it as a health and quality-of-life issue for the citizens affected.
Councilman William “Pete” Kennedy said he stood ready to downzone the property, because the situation has not improved.
|
Today's News