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Tuesday, Nov. 03, 2009

Houston commission unanimously approves rezoning for quarry

PERRY — The Houston County commission unanimously approved today the rezoning necessary for the development of a limestone quarry south of Perry.

As a result, 854 acres will be rezoned from R-AG residential/agricultural, to M-2 general industrial.

“There’s downsides to any type of land use,” Commissioner Gail Robinson said after the vote. However, she said, the negative effects of a quarry, such as dust and noise, can be controlled with proper regulation.

More than 200 people showed up for the meeting. About half wore green and yellow stickers in support of the project. Eight people from each side of the issue spoke for and against the Georgia Limerock Co. LLC project.

The approval came with some caveats. Those include:

Ÿ A signed agreement from Georgia Limerock Co. detailing what the company will do on Plant Road to comply with county regulations, including updating it to industrial capacity. Also, if possible, the company is to use Ga. 224 for ingress and egress.

Ÿ A 300-foot forested buffer around residential areas.

Ÿ A 50-year storm water design on the project.

The quarry would be located within an area south of Ga. 224 and east of Elko Road, just off of Plant Road. The existing Cemex quarry is adjacent to and southeast of the site.

“What you’re doing is just reopening a mine that was there before,” Commissioner Tom McMichael said.

For more on this story, come back to macon.com and read Wednesday’s Telegraph.