Neighbors press concerns over proposed landscape yard, farmers market and portable asphalt unit in Elbert County

Camille Courtney, a planning consultant representing the Evans family, said the owners are exploring three uses for two parcels totaling about 70 acres in Elbert County: a landscape materials yard, a seasonal farmers market in an existing steel shop and a portable mobile road‑mix (asphalt) unit that would produce small, on‑demand batches seasonally. Courtney told neighbors at the community meeting that the first two uses are permitted under the county’s Economic Development Zone (EDZ) but the mobile road‑mix unit would require a special‑use permit and additional studies.

Courtney said the process begins with feedback and studies, followed by a formal application, an internal county review (about a month to six weeks), a planning commission hearing with posted notice and, ultimately, a hearing before the county commissioners. “This is at the very beginning of that process,” she said, adding that traffic and drainage analyses, engineered grading and a drainage plan would be required as part of future applications.

Neighbors repeatedly pressed for details and raised safety and environmental concerns. “There’s not a clear path — you have to grade the soil, probably 15 feet, and you have to take out trees,” said Dina Bassio, a Meadowlark Court resident, who also argued the meeting materials were not the most current and asked for updated maps. Several residents said the proposed Pine Meadow Drive entrance would sit near a blind hill on County Road 166 and that limited sight lines and speeding create a safety hazard that would likely require acceleration and deceleration lanes.

Aaron Branson, who said his house floods in heavy storms, told the group that past drainage problems had not been addressed by the county and that additional vehicle traffic, grading and runoff could worsen flooding. “If this drainage system is not addressed before this goes in, I have zero faith in our county actually doing any of the repair work that needs to be done,” he said.

Residents also worried about noise, visual impacts and long‑term growth. Brenda Gustafson said similar landscape facilities nearby had become “an eyesore” with piles of concrete, dirt and logs; other speakers warned that approving one industrial use could open the door to more intensive operations. The meeting included a question about whether the EDZ applies to the full property; Courtney said both parcels are shown on the county’s zoning overlay as inside the EDZ.

Courtney and a family representative answered technical questions about the proposed asphalt unit: they said the portable machine is compact — roughly 35 feet long and 13 feet high when installed — and that the operator would bring oil in drums, produce small amounts of asphalt for pickup, and not stockpile asphalt on site. A family member who reviewed manufacturer materials said the exterior noise level they’d seen in research was under 65 decibels. Courtney offered to provide the manufacturer brochure and to supply required specifications and acoustical data during the formal review.

Courtney emphasized that the mobile road‑mix use requires a special‑use permit that would specify operational limits, hours and equipment counts. “A special use is unique and specific,” she said, noting that adding another unit later would require returning to the public process. She also said parking for the market would be on‑site and that operations would be during daylight hours initially.

Neighbors asked the applicants and county staff to ensure the forthcoming traffic and drainage studies fully address sight lines, turning movements, stormwater runoff and parking plans. Several residents also urged county enforcement of permit conditions, citing prior approvals where neighbors say required conditions were not met.

Next steps: if the owners file, the project will move into technical studies and formal county review, which would include a planning commission hearing with public notice and a subsequent hearing before the county commissioners. The applicants said materials and manufacturer specifications would be shared with neighbors as they complete the studies.