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Commissioners approve expansion of Shaw Mine, citing workforce training and buffers
Summary
The board granted a special-use permit for Shaw Mine LLC to expand mining operations by about 11.15 acres, including 4.11 acres of excavated area; applicant and staff noted workforce-training partnerships with Cape Fear Community College and said site buffers meet UDO standards.
Pender County commissioners approved a special-use permit (SUP) allowing Shaw Mine LLC to expand existing nonmetallic mineral-mining operations by roughly 11.15 acres, including 4.11 acres proposed for excavation, with conditions recommended by staff.
Staff presented the project as an expansion of an existing permitted operation and said required vegetated buffers exceed the county's Uniform Development Ordinance (UDO) minimums. The project area is part of a larger ~104-acre tract in the Rural Agricultural (RA) zoning district; staff said the expansion is consistent with the Pender 2 comprehensive land-use plan and cited policy sections addressing compatible and nonresidential uses.
Applicant representatives said much of the added acreage will be non-excavated space devoted to mobile-equipment parking and workforce-training grounds. They emphasized a proposed partnership with Cape Fear Community College for heavy-equipment training and said the site has been used historically as a disposal location after storm events.
Commissioners heard that the applicant has addressed driveway access with NCDOT and consented to the conditions included in the staff report. With no public opposition signed up, the board moved, seconded and approved the SUP with the staff-proposed conditions.
Quotes
"The proposed use is consistent with 23 years of use that has been in effect on this site," the applicant's counsel said during the presentation.
Outcome
Motion carried by voice vote to approve the special-use permit, including the conditions recommended in the staff report; staff and applicant will proceed with the permitting steps needed to finalize the expansion.
Background
The SUP covers nonmetallic mineral mining and limited nonhazardous waste treatment and disposal in the RA zoning district; the applicant emphasized workforce development and that no new permanent structures are part of the expansion.
