Franklin County approves rezoning for Greenhaw Road quarry over residents' objections

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners approved a rezoning request on April 15 that would allow a quarry on roughly 99.43 acres of Greenhaw Road property owned by Tinsley Asphalt.

After more than an hour of public comment and questions for county staff, Commissioner Sam Hiles moved to approve the zoning change from A (Agricultural) to I‑1 (Industrial, special). Commissioner Scottie Riddle seconded the motion; the rezoning passed on a roll-call vote, 10–6.

Why it matters: The parcel at issue is large (about 99.43 acres) and the I‑1 designation would permit mining and quarrying operations that, supporters say, could supply local road and paving projects. Opponents — many of them residents who live within sight or a short drive of the site — warned of potential impacts on traffic, noise, blasting effects, water quality and property values. The split vote reflects those competing priorities and leaves a path for regulatory review before any actual mining begins.

What happened at the hearing: Planning and Zoning staff presented the request and a staff report recommending the rezoning. Supporters who spoke at the public hearing included local business representatives and property owners who said the use would generate jobs and local materials. Dozens of nearby residents spoke against the change; their concerns included increased heavy-truck traffic on rural roads, possible blast-related structural damage and risks to wells and drainage.

Several residents told commissioners they feared long-term declines in property values if a quarry were sited nearby. Public commenters who registered in opposition included Dale Crabtree and Joe Partin, who own property adjacent to the proposed site, as well as Greenhaw residents Michael Rudder and Dr. Mark Wert. Supporters listed during the hearing included Peter Tinsley and several community members who said the use was appropriate on this site.

County and planning context: The site was the subject of planning‑staff reports and prior review by the Franklin County Regional Planning Commission, which recommended rezoning at an earlier meeting. The staff reports (on file with Planning & Zoning) note access on Greenhaw Road and require, should mining proceed, approval for a Use Permitted on Appeal through the county Board of Zoning Appeals. That Use Permitted on Appeal will require submittal of a plot plan, operational statement, environmental assessment, traffic impact assessment and a rehabilitation plan before extraction can begin.

County staff response and regulatory limits: During the meeting Highway Department representative Johnny Woodall and Planning & Zoning Director Janet Petrunich answered commissioners’ questions about roads, permitting and oversight. Woodall noted that road-impact and maintenance agreements would be required if heavy truck traffic increases. Planning staff emphasized that state and federal rules apply to mining operations; a county Use Permitted on Appeal would add local conditions, including controls on blasting and erosion, if the application proceeds.

History: The transcript and staff files show that a portion of this property and a related rezoning request were considered by the commission in 2008 and were then denied. Documents supplied to the commission describe the proposed activity as commercial extraction of limestone and identify issues the staff expects to be addressed: noise, truck traffic and the effects of blasting on neighboring structures and drainage.

Next steps: Rezoning does not authorize immediate mining. The applicant will still need to seek a Use Permitted on Appeal (which can set operating conditions) and any required state permits. That administrative process will give staff and neighbors additional opportunities to document impacts and require mitigations.

Provenance: Evidence and votes are recorded in the official meeting transcript and staff reports. The motion and vote are recorded in the minutes: “MOTION BY HILES TO APPROVE THE REZONING OF THE PROPERTY, SECOND BY RIDDLE, APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE 10/6” (meeting minutes, SEG 002). Planning and zoning analysis, background maps and a staff recommendation are in the Planning & Zoning staff report for Case No. 03‑17 (see SEG 015–016). Public concerns and planning‑commission discussion are recorded in SEG 024 and SEG 016–018.

What we asked and what we could not verify: The transcript lists speakers and summarizes their positions but does not contain full verbatim statements for most public comments. Where possible, the article paraphrases statements to reflect the concerns or claims recorded in the meeting minutes and staff reports; quotes are used only when they appear in the official transcript or staff materials.

Contacts and documents: Planning & Zoning Director Janet Petrunich was the staff contact listed in the meeting materials; the county’s packet includes the staff report, rezoning maps and the Planning Commission minutes. The Planning & Zoning Department notice cited TCA 13‑7‑105 in the public‑hearing notice (SEG 007).

Ending: The commission’s approval permits the rezoning change to take effect, but it is only the first step. Any quarry development will need additional county and state approvals before mineral extraction can begin.