WDBJ7 Roanoke News and Weather NRV Lynchburg Danville | Little opposition now to planned asphalt plant in Glenvar area
Member Center:
At the Planning Commission meeting last February, hundreds of residents showed up to voice their opposition to a proposed asphalt plant.
Monday night, the company was back asking for a special use permit at a new site and the crowd was much smaller this time around.
Adams currently owns and operates 23 asphalt plants in Virginia and North Carolina including this one in Blue Ridge.What a difference a few months make for a controversial asphalt plant planned for Roanoke County.
Adams Construction wanted to build the facility at the old Salem Water Treatment Plant in Glenvar.
At the Planning Commission meeting last February, hundreds of residents showed up to voice their opposition.
Commissioners voted in favor of the project but Adams eventually withdrew its application to look at alternative sites.
Monday night, the company was back asking for a special use permit at a new site and the crowd was much smaller this time around.
The project got the green light, but still has a few more hoops to go.
Adams now wants to build the asphalt plant on Peaceful Drive on land currently owned by Appalachian Power.
The company says the new site is more remote, is closer to Interstate 81, and is further away from Glenvar Schools.
Adams currently owns and operates 23 asphalt plants in Virginia and North Carolina including this one in Blue Ridge.
At Monday's public hearing, we heard from more people who are for the new site than are against it.
"Having known Adams and knowing the character of the company and their people, I think they would be a great neighbor, great assets to that part of the country, that's one reason I'm looking forward to them coming here," says Darrell Printz with James River Equipment.
"I'm not a Ph.D, I'm a life-long resident of the area and I think this is the wrong thing to do," says Henry Bryant, who opposes the project.
The Planning Commission voted three to nothing in favor of the project.
Two members, Steve Azar and David Radford, had to refrain from voting because of possible conflict of interests.
Before Monday's meeting, the county attorney had to be consulted to see if approval needed a three to nothing vote.
The attorney researched it and decided a simple majority would suffice.
The Planning Commission just makes a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors.
They're expected to take this issue up at their November 17th meeting.
If Adams receives approval by the Board of Supervisors, the company hopes to have the new asphalt up and running by June.
