Developers eye U.S. 421 area for massive Pender County sand mine project
Developers are planning to use hundreds of acres of land for a sand mine operation in Pender County between the Cape Fear River and U.S. 421.
Pender County officials received the request from Michael Blakely of Drafting and Design Services, Inc. on behalf of Corbett Industries. It's located on Black River Club Road, west of U.S. 421 in the Grady Township. A special use permit for zoning was approved for more than 450 acres of land, with 127.70 being disturbed.
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Blakely said the project will consist of sand material stockpiled on the site, which will be sold to public contractors and production facilities dealing with concrete and asphalt business.
The area was originally timberland before all the trees were removed, making way for the project.
Who lives nearby?
Maps for the project are showing more than 30 homes or property parcels are located on Pender Lake Road, Sinai Drive, and across U.S. 421. Officials reported that buffers will be installed for protection for nearby landowners. Operating hours will be from sunrise to sunset during working days.
"The proposed use will not constitute a nuisance or hazard," Drafting and Design Services officials stated.
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It was also noted that blasting or heavy material processing will not take place, according to officials.
A traffic study will not be required since the sand mine is projected to generate less than 100 trips in the morning and evening peak hours, and less than 1,000 per day.
What's next?
Following approval from county officials, developers will have to make electricity connections for an office and scale house for the sizing process, in addition to other water and sewer hookups.
The project will be sent to the county's Technical Review Committee before zoning and building permits are distributed before the sand mine is finalized.
It will also require approval beyond Pender County from state officials. Some of it includes permits for mining, air quality, driveway permits for the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which addresses water pollution factors.
The project will be completed sometime in 2023. After the area is mined out in about 25 years or less, depending on demand, there's a possibility that the area may become a lake, according to Drafting and Design Services.
Reporter Chase Jordan can be reached at cjjordan@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Developers eye Pender County for massive sand mine project
