Board OKs R and R Farms sand and gravel operation with conditions on setbacks, hours and traffic

The Caroline County Board of Zoning Appeals on March 18 approved special use exception 24-0026, allowing R and R Farms LLC to develop a new mineral extraction operation and wash plant at 25100 Goldsboro Road in Henderson.

The application covers a proposed mining operation on about 111.08 acres that includes a wash plant, the removal of several agricultural structures, and conversion of an existing dwelling to an office. The applicant sought a reduction of a 200-foot zoning setback in three narrowly defined areas to 100 feet; the planning commission had reviewed preliminary site plans and recommended conditions. Staff identified the requested setback reductions as the principal zoning issue for the board to decide.

At the hearing, Lane Engineering project manager Sean Callahan presented the 22-page mining permit site set, haul-route exhibits and a traffic analysis. Callahan described the site’s planned access directly onto State Route 313/312 and told the board the applicant was in final review with the Maryland State Highway Administration; he said, “we believe we can have a permit issued in the next 30 days.” Callahan explained that reducing the setback in small areas would allow more efficient recovery of on-site mineral resources; the submission included neighbor consent letters for the adjacent properties where the setback would be reduced.

Noise, water and property-value impacts were the main technical topics. VibraTech noise and vibration specialist John Ferdinand reviewed a noise model and a sound-study exhibit produced for the applicant; he reported that his conservative analysis projected daytime sound levels…