Zoning Ordinance Workshop

Good afternoon Neighbors and Friends,

With the threat of the rapidly spreading omicron virus, the County will be providing tomorrow evening’s Zoning Ordinance Workshop at the Sylvan School via Youtube.

This is the first chance that we have had as individual citizens to comment on our proposed zoning ordinance and ask questions. The meeting starts at 5:30 PM and will consist of a presentation of the proposed zoning ordinance starting at about 5:45 PM followed by a comment and Q&A period. If you feel safe to attend in person, then please voice any comments and share any concerns you might have regarding the proposed zoning ordinance for Snow Camp. You can also comment remotely using this link on the Alamance County Website.

Please take a few minutes to read through the ordinance draft online and pay attention to the permitting requirements and procedures.

Many citizens are concerned about Class III polluting heavy industries that are included in the Table of Permitted Uses (starting on page 11), including mining/quarrying, asphalt plants, cement manufacturing and hazardous waste landfills.

In order to have them removed from the table, under NC law, we have to provide reasons why these industries are not compatible with any location in Snow Camp. This workshop will be a good place to voice these reasons which can include some or all of the following:

Lack of Infrastructure, we do 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. Additionally, we do not have a municipal fire department or EMS services which increases risks to our health and safety.

Groundwater contamination and/or depletion, as our entire community relies on our wells for our drinking water, heavy polluting industries pose a risk to our water quality and supply.

Air Quality, many of us moved to Snow Camp for the clean air and do not want chemicals and odors contaminating our air.

Traffic, our roads support our low density communities and are not suitable for heavy truck traffic. There are no stop lights in Snow Camp and heavy trucks pose a risk to local drivers and children who attend Sylvan Elementary School.

Vibrations, we should not have our homes shaken by intense industrial activities including blasting. Many of the homes in Snow Camp are historic and more than 100 years old. They were not built to withstand vibrations from heavy industrial activity.

Noise, we live in Snow Camp for the serenity of the rural, agricultural setting and enjoy our quiet sounds of nature and farming. Many retired here for that reason. Class III industries are loud and disruptive to our peaceful lives.

Safety, the Colonial Pipeline runs through our community and was not constructed or reinforced to withstand industrial activity. A rupture/leak of this pipeline could irreparably contaminate our water supply or worse, result in a catastrophic explosion.

Property Values, studies show that property values decline near industrial sites, especially mining and asphalt plants.

Tourism, we have an original historic district dating back to the 1700’s that has in the past been a major tourist attraction. Many are working to restore the district and the Snow Camp Theater. The traffic, noise, diminished air and water quality from heavy industry would jeopardize that effort. If you live near the quarry in Snow Camp, it might also be informative if you share your experiences. Thank you so much for supporting our Community and for your interest in protecting our natural resources and our quality of life in Snow Camp.

Sincerely,
Jane Lea Hicks,
Snow Camp Environmental Defense League (SCEDL)
(936) 520-6156