Hillsborough board delays asphalt plant decision

BY GEOFFREY GRAYBEAL ggraybeal@heraldsun.com; 918-1033

Chapel Hill Herald

February 14, 2003

HILLSBOROUGH - The Hillsborough Board of Adjustment has delayed a decision on a controversial asphalt plant proposed for about five acres along Valley Forge Road.

Following a hearing that lasted for about three hours and 15 minutes, the board voted 4-1 to continue discussion on March 12, the date of its next regularly scheduled meeting.

"Before I could ever vote for something like this, I would have to go and see for myself," explained Larry Carroll, the member who made the motion to continue the hearing.

Carroll also asked for the phone numbers and addresses of similar plants nearby.

Four people - an attorney, engineer, air quality expert and asphalt specialist - testified on behalf of the applicant, Doug Robins of Bahama.

Robins is the owner of Durham-based Asphalt Experts Inc., which does paving, excavating and grading work.

Phil Post, a Chapel Hill engineer, said the Valley Forge Road plant would produce an average of 45,000 tons of asphalt per year.

Trucks at the plant would typically generate 16 round trips per day, he said. Buffers would protect Cates Creek and a neutralizing agent would eliminate any smell.

"We're going to have one of the best, the best leading-edge plants," Post said.

Rich Pandullo, regional director of environmental services for the Clayton Group, said there would be no adverse air quality effects to surrounding facilities.

Jarvis Martin, a Durham real estate appraiser, said the market would accept an asphalt plant and that people would be willing to live and work near one.

But eight people spoke against the proposed plant. Orange County's government is opposed to the project because it owns the land occupied by Orange Enterprises, a nonprofit organization that provides vocational jobs and training to residents with disabilities.

The county outlined its case in a letter from County Manager John Link and testimony by Planning Director Craig Benedict, County Engineer Paul Thames, and by Sean Borhanian, an assistant to County Attorney Geof Gledhill.

Benedict said dust, fumes, glare and runoff into Cates Creek were just a few adverse effects that would extend beyond the plant's lot and warrant denial of the permit. He said Robins also hadn't obtained an erosion control permit or an air quality permit.

Towson Moore of Wilmore Electronics said the asphalt plant would produce thousands of pounds of pollutants. He said he's also worried about dust, fumes, traffic and potential odor.

"It just makes no sense to me that that would be the place to locate this asphalt plant," he said. "I would hope that for the good of Hillsborough ... the Board of Adjustment would disapprove this application."

Kathy Bryan, the executive director of Orange Enterprises, concurred. "It's a big risk to my population," she said. "I'm concerned about the safety of a very vulnerable population. I would ask that this board think about these citizens and do what you can to protect them."

Brendan Moylan of Sports Endeavors, which borders the proposed plant site, said the asphalt plant isn't in the best interest of the community.

"If things don't work well or there is a problem, that is a threat," he said. "They are threatening my business. They are threatening a way of life for 500 people."