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Board grants special exception for dirt-mining pit on US 176 after contested notice and environmental questions
Summary
After testimony from the applicant, county staff and multiple neighbors, the Board of Zoning Appeals granted a special-exception permit for a dirt-mining operation at 18626 US Highway 176 on April 7, 2026. Neighbors raised notice, water, buffer and reclamation concerns; the applicant cited state permits and a $20,000 reclamation bond.
The Newberry County Board of Zoning Appeals voted April 7 to grant a special-exception permit allowing dirt mining on tax map parcel 437-1 (18626 US Highway 176), concluding the application met the county’s special-exception findings after a contested hearing that included questions over neighbor notice and environmental safeguards.
The hearing opened with a procedural objection by adjoining property owner Joseph Thomasson, who submitted an exhibit showing a mailed neighbor notice postmarked March 25 for an April 7 hearing and photographic evidence he said showed the required conspicuous sign was not posted on the property during the full notice period. Thomasson argued the short mailing interval and missing sign deprived the board of jurisdiction to act and asked for a deferral to the May meeting to allow the county to cure the alleged defects.
County zoning staff (Miss Katie) told the board the legal newspaper advertisement for the hearing ran March 18 in the Newberry Observer…
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