FLOWERY BRANCH -- A rock quarry operating in southern Flowery Branch is looking to expand its property to front Hog Mountain Road, and company officials are hoping to annex that property into the city of Flowery Branch, as well.
The quarry is operated by Vulcan Materials Company and is located on a plot of land between Friendship Road, Hog Mountain Road, Blackjack Road and Swansey Road. Land manager for Vulcan, Richard Hall, said the company wants four properties that they've obtained annexed into the city and accordingly rezoned for heavy industrial use.
He said at the Flowery Branch City Council's Thursday meeting that the company want to use the land to build more buffer between the quarry and the surrounding residential property in area, saying officials plan to extend an existing berm structure closer to Hog Mountain and Blackjack roads.
"This does nothing more or nothing less than create a better buffer between us and the surrounding community. It would definitely reduce the noise impact on the surrounding community and some of the vibration that goes along with the noise and the trucks driving by," Hall said.
The four properties total more than 20 acres. Several citizens spoke in favor of Vulcan's request at the meeting, saying they had not had any negative experience with Vulcan's presence in the area.
One resident expressed concerns on potential impact the move could have on property values on land across the street on both Hog Mountain and Blackjack roads. Flowery Branch Planning Director Rich Atkinson said due to the nature of the request, the city did not perform a study on the issue.
"If we were talking about a quarry expansion, maybe that would have triggered some additional studies or further research into that, but the fact that it's going to be a buffer, the city did not investigate any further," Atkinson said.
"We're very mindful of the fact that we operate a heavy industrial activity surrounded by agricultural and residential uses," Hall said. "We're also very mindful that in order for our operation to be as effective and efficient as it can be that we need to maintain a good relationship with the surrounding land owners."
The council approved the reading of the annexation and rezoning, but will not give the request a final vote until its October 5 meeting.
