By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
A China Grove retail development project which ran afoul of county and state erosion-control regulations is now in full compliance.
China Grove Ventures cleared more than 11 acres on the east side of U.S. 29 across from the Stag ‘N Doe.
When grading started several months ago, county officials thought it was the town’s sewer-line project, which had been properly permitted.
When county officials inquired, they were told all of the grading was related to the town project.
As weeks went by, the size of the graded area continued to grow.
LLoyd Pace, enforcement officer with the county’s Planning and Development Department, checked with the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Officials confirmed the grading was not related to the sewer project.
Pace said he contacted Brandon Cornelius, one of the principles in China Grove Ventures, and notified him that any commercial project involving the disturbance of one acre or more requires an erosion-control plan and approval.
“One person thought the other one had submitted the plan,” Pace said.
He ordered work to stop until a plan was submitted and approved.
The plan arrived at the county office the next day. It was reviewed and approved.
The majority of the area has been covered with grass-matting and is in full compliance.