Say NO to a new asphalt plant on Granite Ln, Forsyth County

Say NO to a new asphalt plant on Granite Ln, Forsyth County

Started
October 31, 2019
Petition to
Dennis T Brown and 1 other
Signatures: 7,028Next Goal: 7,500
Support now

Why this petition matters

Started by Suwanee Resident

UPDATE 3:

Please contribute via the link below and join other concerned residents in our fight against the proposed project.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/jwn2dk-5000

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C. W. Matthews Contracting Company and Forsyth County has requested and expedited an application to build the Big Creek Asphalt Plant on Granite Ln, of off Peachtree Pkwy (SR 141) and Johns Creek Pkwy. The proposed plant will operate 24x7 and is a few 100 feet away from residences, day cares, schools and heavy traffic businesses on Johns Creek Parkway.

Link to the asphalt plant application: CP190040

Please express your concerns to District 2 Commissioner, Dennis T. Brown, and C. W. Matthews Company.

A few objections to this proposed plant are:

  • Proximity to near by residences, schools and businesses
  • Increased (and 24x7) ingress and egress traffic from heavy trucks on Granite Ln, Peachtree Pkwy and Johns Creek Pkwy. Update: Although the county and the plant operator claim this is not the case, a more modern plant with the projected demand will more likely operate at a higher level than the current, older plant.
  • Air pollution - Asphalt plants emit hazardous air pollutants, harmful to people and wildlife in the area.  According to the EPA, this type of plant typically emits up to 2000 pounds of hazardous air pollutants per year. Georgia EPD Estimate,  EPA report
  • Health risks - Asphalt plants produce PM-10 particles, small enough to get into the lungs and cause serious health problems. 
  • The plant is proposed to be 90 ft high, so will adversely impact the visual appearance and perception of the area and drive down the property prices. For context: the tallest building in Suwanee and Cumming now is the Forsyth Northside Hospital at ~98ft. The second tallest building is the Hampton Inn Cumming at ~49ft. 90ft is approximately an 8-floor residential apartment or a 7-floor office space
  • Usage of county sewer system for chemical waste, that will impact sewer treatment plants, and subsequently water quality of the county. Update: This is a non-issue since the sewer was intended only for the staff working at the plant and not for the production activities of the plant. Also the county sewer will no longer be used. 

UPDATE 2:

More than 600 residents were present at the November meeting. The County has postponed the voting to January 9th, 2020. We still need your continued support to oppose this project. 

UPDATE 1:

For those who are not fully aware of the activity on this project:

The development of this project exceeds the threshold that triggers the need for a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) review. This DRI review was expedited and completed and submitted to the county on October 28th. Well after the notice of public hearing was, rather inconspicuously, posted on Granite Ln. The initial public hearing was held on October 29th, a day after the DRI review was submitted.

The final decision for this will be made at the Board of Commissioners (BOC) meeting on November 21st, 2019. The meeting will be held at:

Administration Building, 110 E Main Street
Cumming, GA 30040

References for emissions and health risks:

Hot Mix Asphalt Plant (Synthetic Minor Source) - Narrative 

Support now
Signatures: 7,028Next Goal: 7,500
Support now
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Decision Makers

  • Dennis T Brown
  • Forsyth County Board of Commissioners