Pitt County approves Glenda Bridal sand-mining conditional rezoning with dewatering ban

The Pitt County Board of Commissioners voted 6-3 on April 7 to approve a conditional rezoning that allows a sand-mining operation on 40.69 acres owned by Glenda Bridal, with conditions intended to limit local impacts. The board’s approval attached a requirement that any mining not include off‑site dewatering, and set hours of operation at 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The rezoning request moved forward after a lengthy public hearing that drew neighbors, RV park owners and mining proponents. Opponents raised concerns about noise, dust, truck traffic and potential effects on private wells and school-bus routes. Wayne Mayhew, owner of Whispering Oaks RV Resort, told commissioners that hundreds of residents live in nearby parks and that nonstop truck traffic and dust would harm property values and public safety. Neighbor Scott Pollard said he has health issues and worries about noise and dust from excavation.

Proponents and the applicant emphasized mitigation measures. Applicant Joseph Riley said the operation would not require a dewatering permit for off‑site discharge and that excavated water would be managed and returned on‑site. Consultants and mining supporters pointed to existing nearby mines and proposed buffers and berms intended to reduce visibility and sound.

Planning staff described a package of conditions offered by the applicant that exceed ordinance minima: 200-foot setbacks from Old Pactolus Road (where the ordinance requires 100 feet), a 100-foot setback from adjoining agricultural parcels, and perimeter screening. The applicant proposed berms of 10 to 20 feet in areas adjacent to residences (the ordinance minimum is a 6-foot berm). Staff also noted the site lies, in part, inside the 100-year floodplain and that a valid state mining permit from the NCDEQ Energy, Mineral and Land Resources Division would be required before any work.

Commission discussion focused on precedent, enforcement and water impacts. Commissioner Nunley asked whether a ban on dewatering could be added as a condition; the applicant confirmed they were not applying for an off‑site dewatering permit and would accept a written condition prohibiting dewatering that would lower local water tables or discharge off‑site. Planning staff noted state permitting and inspections would continue to be required for mining operations and that the county enforces local hours and site-plan compliance when complaints arise.

The board’s approval included these explicit requirements: no off‑site dewatering (no active pumping that would lower neighboring water tables or discharge off‑site), adherence to the applicant’s proposed 200-foot and 100-foot setbacks, berms/screening as proposed, demonstration of a valid NCDEQ mining permit and a required flood-development permit from Pitt County before any site work. The operation must also secure an NCDOT commercial driveway permit for access. Commissioners did not attach a county time limit to the rezoning; planning staff said the county’s zoning approval does not itself impose a fixed time limit on how long mining may continue once permitted, though the state mining permit and reclamation rules will control operations and reclamation.

The approval clears the way for the applicant to seek state permits and to proceed under the county conditions; the board did not authorize any county funding or changes to state permitting. The measure was approved 6 to 3.