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The multi-purpose room of West Yadkin Elementary School was nearly full last Thursday with Hamptonville area residents concerned about a potential aggregate mine on a nearly 500-acre tract of land near the school.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
HAMPTONVILLE \u2014 Several hundred Hamptonville residents gathered at West Yadkin Elementary School last week for a community meeting regarding a proposed mining project on a nearly-500 acre tract of land in the area. In early March neighboring property owners received a letter from Three Oaks Quarry detailing the concept of an aggregate mine which has been proposed for the property.<\/p>\n
Residents\u2019 concerns have been growing since last year when, at the time, unexplained test drilling began on the site. According to a report by NC Policy Watch, Jack Mitchell, president of Synergy Materials, said the drilling was part of a due diligence process to determine the highest and best use of the land.<\/p>\n
In the recent letter to residents, Mitchell identified himself as President of Three Oaks Quarry and said he was working with Turnkey Processing Solutions, a company that develops properties produce aggregate, a key ingredient in construction of roads, buildings etc.<\/p>\n
Initial speculation from neighbors was that fracking or lithium mining could be the reason developers were interested in the property. The proposed aggregate mine, however, has not lessened concerns from the community.<\/p>\n
Environmental concerns, property values, and increased traffic in the area are just a few of the things residents are worried about. Perhaps one of the biggest concerns is the proximity of the proposed mine to West Yadkin Elementary School.<\/p>\n
Among the panel which addressed questions during last Thursday\u2019s meeting were Yadkin School Board members Tim Weatherman, Tim Parks and Sharon Yale. Also taking part in the panel was Yadkin County Schools Superintendent Todd Martin.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s my job to advocate for the children of this school and the other schools here in this county, and it\u2019s greatly concerning to me, personally, to know that a mine is going to be just behind this school and in such close proximity to 460 students and approximately 60 staff members who work here everyday,\u201d Martin said. \u201cI\u2019m worried about the blasting, it\u2019s been described that the blasting is going to be minimal, but that\u2019s still a concern for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI just don\u2019t think that\u2019s what\u2019s best for students, bottom line,\u201d Martin concluded, to applause from those in attendance.<\/p>\n
Also among Thursday\u2019s panelists was Edgar Miller representing the Yadkin Riverkeeper organization. Miller said runoff and sediment into Deep Creek could be a potential concern.<\/p>\n
Though he noted that he did not yet have the information about the proposed mine and could not answer questions with 100 percent certainty, Miller did say that potential impacts on Deep Creek could pose problems. He added that the Yadkin River tributary is already considered \u201cto be impaired\u201d by the State.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese types of facilities, we understand, can affect surface water drainage, ground water levels so we would expect that unless they somehow contained all this, it could potentially add to the sediment problems in Deep Creek and I don\u2019t have to tell you all that Deep Creek already runs pretty muddy,\u201d Miller said.<\/p>\n
Other members of the community group against the proposed mine who have been researching mining and contacting State officials about the project in recent months addressed questions as well.<\/p>\n
There were no representatives from Three Oaks Quarry at the meeting, but the business is planning to host its own informational session on Wednesday, March 23 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Yadkin Agricultural and Educational Building, 4432 Old U.S. 421, Yadkinville.<\/p>\n
The property in Hamptonville is currently zoned rural agriculture (RA). A rezoning request to Manufacturing Industrial (MI-2) has been filed with the Yadkin Planning Board. County Manager Lisa Hughes explained that the Planning Board has 60 days to review and respond to the request. The next Yadkin County Planning Board meeting is April 11.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n