Applicant seeks to reopen rock quarry; commission asks for site visit and permits

Nathan Dye, applicant for Broad River Mining LLC, requested conditional-use approval to reopen a 278.62-acre rock quarry at 0 Berkeley Road in District 4, telling planning staff the operation would produce crushed stone and surge stone for erosion-control use in Madison County and neighboring counties.

Planning staff described existing site features: a 21,000-square-foot quarry shed, a 1,349-square-foot office and previously disturbed pit areas. Dye's letter of intent said the reopening would create up to 25 jobs within two years and would reuse existing structures without enlargement. The applicant provided a closure plan describing reuse of the site after mining operations cease, which staff placed in the packet.

Staff explained the conditional-use submittal must include engineered site plans, a stormwater-management plan, a reclamation/closure plan and compliance with applicable state and federal permits. The quarry operation would need to meet setbacks from waterbodies: 100 feet from the Broad River and 50 feet from Fork Creek, and any excavation areas must be enclosed within a six-foot fence at least 10 feet from the edge of excavation.

Commissioners asked whether blasting would be used and whether the site’s rail spur and access were viable; staff and the applicant said they would provide answers and arrange a site visit before the public hearing. Dye and staff noted the zoning ordinance requires periodic review for some mining conditional uses—staff said the permit may need renewal every two years (or at an interval specified by the board).

No final action was recorded; commissioners asked staff to coordinate a site visit and to ensure required engineered plans and permits are filed before the application returns to the commission for a public hearing.