ATTENTION PLEASE, YOUR ACTION IS NEEDED!
It has been proposed to the Alamance County planning department that all future Class 3 Heavy Industry be “not permitted” in Snow Camp and that these provisions be indoctrinated into the Zoning Ordinance.
Additionally, a request was made during public comment at the most recent Planning Board meeting on December 9th urging that coal ash waste, as land fill, also be prohibited. According to the NC Coal Ash Management Act (CAMA) Quarries and Mines can be used as coal ash depositories and are not subject to local permitting. Therefore, the state can designate a mine site and local government would be excluded from the process.
After some discussion regarding coal ash, Newlin (Snow Camp) board member, Rodney Cheek agreed saying, ”We need to get out front of this.” Let’s show support for Mr. Cheek’s lead on this!
2. Complete the brief Zoning Ordinance Survey on Class III Industry through surveymonkey.com
- Recommended response: “1.B- Do not allow Class III uses in the Snow Camp area.”
3. Comment directly here on surveymonkey.com.
4. Sign this petition on change.org.
- Phone: 336-570-4053 or 336-570-4054
- E-mail: planning@alamance-nc.com OR USE THE FORM BELOW:
- Our info sheet on Class 3 Industries — how they impact our community.
- View the January 5th public workshop video.
- More county Planning Department Snow Camp Zoning Ordinance Updates.
**Class III industries include Mining/Quarrying, Racetracks, Chemical Manufacturing, Asphalt Plants, Landfills-except inert debris, Paper Mills, Cement Manufacturing, Electricity Generating Facility (not including renewable sources).
- · Property Values: Studies show that property values decline near industrial sites, especially mining and asphalt plants. This is exploitive and completely unacceptable to the residents of Snow Camp. Studies show that property values decline near industrial sites, especially mining and asphalt plants. This is exploitive and completely unacceptable to the residents of Snow Camp.
- Groundwater contamination and/or depletion: Our entire community relies on our wells for our drinking water, heavy polluting industries pose a risk to our water quality and supply.
- Vibrations: Snow Camp residents should not be subjected to our homes and historic Quaker dams and walls shaken by intense industrial activities including blasting and large truck vibration. Many of our homes and buildings are historic and more than 100 years old. They were not built to withstand vibrations from heavy industrial activity.
- Safety: The Colonial Pipeline runs through our community and was not constructed or reinforced to withstand industrial activity and strong vibrations. A rupture/leak of this pipeline could irreparably contaminate our water supply or result in a catastrophic explosion.
- Noise: Snow Camp is a serene rural, agricultural setting where our residents live to quiet sounds of nature and local farming activities. Many have moved here for this reason. Class III industries are noise polluters and like the blasting of the mine are offensive and disruptive to lives and our general health and well-being.
- Air Quality: Snow Camp residents do not want chemicals, particles and odors contaminating our air and endangering our health.
- Lack of Infrastructure: Snow Camp does not have infrastructure to support heavy industry. We lack a municipal water supply, a public sewer system and do not have direct access to a major highway artery. These are generally considered basic criteria for a heavy industry district.
- Traffic: Snow Camp roads are built for low-density community and are not suitable for heavy truck traffic.
- Tourism: Our historic district dates to the 1700’s and is a significant tourist attraction and up and coming cultural mecca. Many are working to restore historic artifacts including the Snow Camp Theater. Heavy industry will jeopardize this collaborative community effort.
If you live near the quarry in Snow Camp, please share your experiences with blasting, vibration, damage, etc. here.
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