Flowery Branch Council gives final okay to quarry expansion

FLOWERY BRANCH - In a unanimous vote Thursday night, Flowery Branch City Council members gave final approval to an expansion of a quarry owned and operated by Vulcan Materials.

Mayor Mike Miller confirmed the vote Friday morning.

Miller said while there had been concerns about the impact of rezoning and annexing several properties around the quarry, all parties were able to work out their differences over the expansion. He said the first public hearing last month helped.

"I think that opened a dialogue between the rock quarry, the city and the residents," said Miller. "I think everybody got something they wanted, but not everybody got everything they wanted. It was a good compromise. It was very civil."

Miller said Vulcan did promise that the company will make additional efforts to beautify the corridor along Hog Mountain Road, so that residents will not feel a negative impact from the 41-acre expansion.

"It will be a functional area, an amenity for the residents along there," said Miller. "We're hoping to tie it in - the walking trail and bike path - with the countywide bike path that's being looked at by the MPO [Metropolitan Planning Organization]."

Miller said there are residents who live on a portion of the annexed parcel, and they will not move from the site until September, and then he said Vulcan will have to get state permits to begin work on the expansion.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2014/4/273383