Planning board recommends conditional rezoning for concrete plant on Tar River Ranch parcel

At its April meeting, the Wilson County Planning Board recommended approval of a conditional rezoning to allow construction and operation of a cement/concrete manufacturing facility on 15.4 acres of a larger Tar River Ranch parcel.

The rezoning request, submitted by ELA LLC for property owned by Tar River Ranch LLC, would change the 15.4-acre tract from AR (agricultural/residential) to M2CD (heavy industrial, conditional district) but would be limited by condition to the concrete/cement manufacturing use only. A county planner told the board the change would not authorize other M2 uses unless they were also allowed in AR.

Why it matters: the parcel lies adjacent to U.S. 264 Bypass and within a public water-supply watershed subject to Neuse River Basin guidelines, and the board discussed measures intended to reduce noise and visual impacts on nearby residences. Staff said the plant would employ about eight people and generate roughly 15–20 vehicle trips per day; the proposal is intended to serve a local need for a concrete…