Council places Scruggs (Construction Partners) asphalt plant and ownership-transfer request on consent agenda

City staff and a representative for Scruggs Company (part of Construction Partners) briefed the Villa Rica City Council on a proposal to add a fixed asphalt-manufacturing plant behind an approved building on a parcel originally permitted for J & M Tank Lines. Nick Griffin, deputy director of building development, told the council the site is zoned I-2, asphalt manufacturing is an allowable use in that zoning, and staff recommended approval of the manufacturing operation. The petition also seeks city approval to transfer ownership of the development from J & M Tank Lines to the Scruggs Company.

Jeremy Heidel, a Scruggs Company representative, said Scruggs is under contract to purchase the parcel and prefers to hold the site directly rather than operate through J & M. He described the company’s regional operations and estimated the overall investment in the site at approximately $8–10 million. Heidel provided preliminary tax estimates, saying the plant would be taxed as business personal property; he cited an expected business personal-property tax of about $60,000, additional state and local taxes around $750,000, and a property-tax figure of about $20,000. He said the permanent plant would employ operators and administrative staff and that water and sewer demand for the manufacturing process would be minimal.

Council members asked about environmental controls, site drainage and a retention pond, and whether the previously granted variance (allowing gravel rather than asphalt surfacing) remains applicable. Heidel said plants use natural gas for drying aggregate, operate under environmental and sustainability plans, maintain containment for liquid asphalt storage, and would keep the retention-pond design as approved. Staff clarified that many variances run with the land and that the city placed the moratorium on permitting as a reason the council must review certain permit or ownership changes.

Public works and planning staff outlined three potential motions: (1) approve the asphalt plant but deny transfer of ownership; (2) approve both the plant and transfer of ownership while preserving permit status; or (3) deny both requests. Council members had no objection to motion number 2, and staff scheduled the item as consent item number 2 for the next regular meeting.

No permit has yet been issued; if approved at the regular meeting, subsequent permitting and construction processes will follow application and building-permit procedures.