Planning panel denies rezoning for quarry along Loudoun–Monroe county line after residents raise road, dust and blasting concerns

A planning body denied a request to rezone a parcel that would allow quarrying after members said the project’s community impacts and inadequate local roads made it inappropriate.

The request, filed to change a property from A-1 Agricultural-Forestry zoning to a Community Facilities District designation to permit quarry operations, drew sustained public comment about road safety, dust, blasting and potential effects on a nearby creek. Bailey Abud, the applicant, told the panel, “We’re hoping to get this piece of property rezoned for the intent of quarrying purposes,” and described plans to coordinate with Monroe County on road widening and to help fund the work.

The issue mattered to residents who said the narrow roads are already damaged by heavy farm traffic and that blasting had disturbed nearby homes. Doug Linn, who said he lives on New York Road and can “stand in my front yard and see the proposed site,” told the panel, “I’m concerned about the condition of the road,” and warned that blasting, dust and noise would interfere with farming and “the quiet enjoyment of my property.” Another resident said blasts in December shook their house and knocked dishes from shelves.

Panel members noted those concerns in debate. Commissioners asked about access, long-term truck volumes and whether the company would operate at full production before the county- and state-level road improvements were completed. The applicant said the primary access and most of the quarry lie in neighboring Monroe County and said the company had discussed improvements with Monroe County staff; the applicant estimated the roadway widening would cost about $1,820,000 and said work could take about one to one-and-a-half years. The applicant also proposed a community contribution—described as a per-ton payment to local schools—but did not present a binding mitigation agreement during the hearing.

After public comment and applicant remarks, a commissioner moved to deny the rezoning request; the motion was seconded and the panel voted to deny. The record shows the motion to deny passed; no roll-call vote tally was read into the record during the meeting.

The panel’s denial stops the rezoning request at the planning-stage recommendation; it does not itself enact zoning changes and any future applicant would need to refile or pursue other approvals. The applicant and affected residents may pursue further steps, including requests for county-level hearings or revised applications with specific, documented mitigation measures.