Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 4, 1995 TAG: 9505040087
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAN CASEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"We have very emotional opposition. ... It's rooted in a lot of misconception," Commissioner John Bradshaw said before the 6-0 vote.
The commission's recommendation, which is only advisory, sets the stage for a potentially rancorous hearing before City Council on Monday night at 7. People who live near the site said they'd turn out in force then.
"It's a good thing we vote for City Council, rather than" the planning commissioners, said Paul Smith, a Northeast resident. "Because that's who gets it next."
The applicant is Branch Highways, a major Roanoke Valley road contractor and one of the largest highway builders in the nation. After searching for sites in Botetourt County and elsewhere, Branch has proposed building the plant on 11.7 acres near Statesman Industrial Park.
The operation, which would produce about 1,200 tons of asphalt a day, would be built on land behind the McDonald's restaurant on the north side of Orange Avenue near its intersection with King Street. The closest homes are 1,600 feet away.
Part of the hearing centered on a visit to a similar, although older, asphalt plant operating on a much smaller piece of land in Fairfax.
John Marlles, director of community planning; Phil Sparks, the city's acting economic development chief; and commission Vice Chairman Richard Jones visited that operation on April 20.
Marlles and Jones said the\
Fairfax plant emitted no odors, there was virtually no noise and nearby residents in some cases didn't know it existed.
The only testimony in favor of the rezoning came from Donald Wetherington, an attorney representing Branch. Seven residents of Springtree and other nearby communities testified in opposition, and another two dozen people applauded them.
Wetherington told commissioners that the plant would be screened by a 20-foot earth berm and that trees would be planted around it.
He said the plant would produce virtually no noise, fumes or other pollution, and that additional traffic would hardly be noticed on busy Orange Avenue.
On the other hand, the plant would pay the city about $210,000 annually in property and other taxes and would employ 32 people, he said.
"If there was ever a win-win zoning proposal ... I think this is it," Wetherington said. "It poses no threat, no harm, no inconvenience, no burden either to the public at large or to the owners, residents or users of property in either the immediate vicinity or the far vicinity."
The residents who testified Wednesday clearly didn't buy Wetherington's statement.
"It means our gateway from Lynchburg is going to be lined with heavy industry," Virginia Rhodes said. "What are we doing to the northeast sector if we allow this to come in? This is very serious stuff. I beg you not to [approve] it."
Jim Phillips, who lives in Springtree, said asphalt is hazardous. As evidence, he gave the commission documents from an asphalt manufacturer warning against breathing the fumes. Heating asphalt can produce small amounts of toxic and flammable hydrogen sulfide gas.
Phillips also noted that the site is 500 yards from a day-care center where scores of children play outdoors.
Also, "you can't fight a fire with this stuff if it catches accidentally," he argued. Hot asphalt can explode when water is poured on it, and the only way to extinguish it is with foam. The only foam truck in the valley is stationed at the Roanoke Regional Airport, and under federal regulations, it can't leave airport property, Phillips said.
"Nobody's looked at the dangers. Everybody's just looking at this from the standpoint of economic gain," Phillips said.
King Street resident Obediah Overstreet, whose property already abuts two industries, said he's heard similar "no impact" promises before that weren't kept.
At Virginia Transformer, "you've got noise at all hours of the night. I'm sure at that plant over there, you're going to get the same thing," Overstreet said.
Ralph Shivers, Branch Highways' president, said the plant will operate at night only when the company has contracts that require nighttime paving. Even then, most of the asphalt will be produced during the day and stored for nighttime pickup, he said.
by CNB