Neighbors oppose proposed 453‑acre sand mine; planning board votes 3–2 to recommend denial

The Charlotte County Planning and Zoning Board voted 3–2 to recommend denial of application PL‑25‑01 (a large‑scale plan amendment to Mineral Resource Extraction, MRE) and its companion rezoning Z‑25‑12 (to Excavation & Mining, EM) for approximately 453.27 acres owned by Thomas J. Chastain Jr.

Staff presentation and findings Jay Shao, community development planner, reviewed the requests and county standards for Mineral Resource Extraction (MRE) and Excavation & Mining (EM) zoning. Shao said the property is located in the rural service area north of Burmont Road and west of State Road 31 in Commission District 1, is approximately 453.27 acres, and is outside mapped MRE prohibited areas, outside the prime aquifer recharge area, and outside a one‑half‑mile setback to Shell Creek system. Shao noted isolated wetlands on the property and nearby residences. She said the site meets the MRE minimum acreage and that the applicant submitted a transportation impact statement; county transportation engineering staff agreed the additional trips would not significantly degrade level of service on Burmont Road but recommended a left‑turn lane.

Shao described required mitigation under the MRE designation including a wildlife‑corridor conservation easement for a portion of the property, submittal of a post‑excavation reclamation plan and…