Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Rezoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mecklenburg supervisors approve Vulcan Materials rezoning; one abstains over potential appearance of conflict
Summary
The board approved rezoning of a 56-acre parcel to allow a quarry expansion for Vulcan Materials. Attorney Jimmy Butts described economic benefits; Supervisor Wilkerson abstained, saying his family rents land from Vulcan and he wanted to avoid an appearance of impropriety.
The Mecklenburg County Board of Supervisors voted to rezone a 56-acre parcel adjacent to an existing quarry from agricultural to Industrial M1, clearing the way for a Vulcan Materials quarry expansion.
Jimmy Butts, an attorney representing Vulcan Materials, told the board the expansion would be quarrying-only and adjacent to the company's existing operations. Butts said Vulcan “has contributed, by their estimate, about $21,000,000 annually to our community,” listed company staff in attendance and said the project would use the current commercial entrance and should not increase traffic. He also told the board federal and state permitting may take about two years.
Supervisor Wilkerson disclosed a family financial tie, saying, “My family rents land from Vulcan Materials,” and stated he would abstain from the rezoning vote “to avoid the appearance of impropriety.” The meeting record does not show a roll-call vote; the board approved the rezoning by voice vote and the motion carried.
The approval is a zoning decision; the company will still need to obtain the required environmental, state and federal permits before expanding quarry operations, as Butts noted. The board did not record a detailed roll call in the minutes; Wilkerson’s abstention was stated aloud before the vote.
Next steps include any required site-specific permits and the multi-agency permitting process Vulcan referenced. The board did not specify additional conditions in its motion.
