Fort Mill parents tell council a proposed hazardous‑materials plant should not be allowed near new schools

Ashley Horn, a Fort Mill resident and mother of two, told York County Council during public comment Jan. 21 that a proposed industrial operation she identified as Veil Fab would store and treat hazardous materials in bulk near newly sited schools and neighborhoods.

Horn said the York County zoning code’s definition of light industrial does not permit hazardous‑material treatment and storage facilities and that putting a plant that stores silane gas, hydrofluoric acid and anhydrous ammonia in bulk "247" near Fort Mill schools poses a safety hazard for the roughly 100 children she said would attend the nearby Flint Hills School. She said the Board of Zoning Appeals had overturned an administrator’s decision in a unanimous ruling and that the property had not been rezoned to allow the proposed use.

Horn asked council to enforce the zoning code, to ‘‘represent and support the community,’’ and to ensure county employees and elected officials follow law and county procedures. She framed her comment as a call for the council to demand that county zoning be applied to the proposed development and to protect nearby families and students.

Council did not take an immediate action on the specific facility during the meeting; the remarks were recorded in the public‑comment portion of the agenda. Horn cited the county zoning code definition in her remarks but did not provide a specific code citation for the council to reference. No county staff response or presentation on this specific project was included in the transcript portion of the meeting.