By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
A deal appears near that would allow a Gold Hill lumber company to expand and give neighbors desired screening.
The Rowan County Planning Board voted unanimously to recommend approval of a conditional-use permit to allow Blandy Hardwoods on Gin Road to add dry kilns, a planer and additional buildings for lumber storage.
Company owner Andrew Frick first sought approval for the expansion in 2005. Commissioners approved rezoning the 26-acre tract from rural agricultural to industrial. Faced with opposition from neighbors, commissioners added a conditional-use permit with seven conditions.
Frick never agreed to the conditions, leaving the property with industrial zoning but no means of expansion.
One of the conditions required the planer and dry kilns to be set back 500 feet from the property lines. Planners said Monday evening that because of the configuration of the property, Frick couldn’t meet the 500-foot requirement.
Frick is seeking a modification of the 500-foot setback condition and a requirement that asphalt be extended to the site of the new structures.
Neighbors who spoke at the hearing said they don’t want to shut down Frick’s business. But they do want him to comply with screening and buffering requirements initially approved in 2005.
David Ingram and his wife Karen, who live across the road from the plant, called on the board to require the screening and retain the paving requirement.
The Ingrams and Jeff Beck, whose home is immediately adjacent to the facility, questioned why none of the screening has been put in place over three years after the county approved the requirements.
Senior Planner Shane Stewart said the requirements don’t kick in until Frick pulls building permits to carry out the planned expansion.
And planners added that with Frick requesting five years vesting to carry out the project, he wouldn’t have to begin planting evergreens for up to five years.
Planning Board member Mac Butner asked the neighbors if they were willing to accept the setback changes if Frick is willing to speed up constructing the buffer. All agreed.
Board members discussed various types of buffering and screening requirements but concluded the planning staff could work with Frick and the neighbors to come up with a revised site plan calling for planting suitable evergreens within six months.
Frick agreed to the proposal.
With that, the board unanimously approved a motion by Rod Whedbee to send the request to the Rowan County Board of Commissioners with a recommendation for approval of the amended site plan.
Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254.