Henrico County’s Board of Supervisors met face-to-face with Goochland County officials on Tuesday night, before Goochland’s board unanimously approved the planned improvements of an industrial property along county lines.
The development operated by Luck Stone Corporation, a Virginia-based stone and gravel company, has run its Rockville rock quarry for more than 60 years. Residents fear the company’s recent request could have an adverse impact on both localities.
The existing property along Ashland Road roughly borders homes near Henrico's Westin Estates subdivision. The company’s latest plans call for conditional use of around 70 acres to support the quarry’s various operations — including stone processing, material placement and a debris recycling facility.
The property for this proposed project has been in Luck Stone’s possession since roughly 2011-12 according to Linwood Thomas, a director of development and spokesperson with parent Luck Companies.
“What we do want to make clear of is that this is an internal project to our existing footprint,” Thomas told Goochland supervisors Tuesday night. “We are not looking to expand our operations outside of that which we already own, and we've owned this property for the last 10-plus years.”
Luck Stone hosted meetings with residents of both counties on May 22 to address lingering issues connected with the existing development and discuss firsthand accounts of loud noises and disturbances from adjacent homeowners.
Nearly 30 attendees voiced concerns over the impacts the proposed facilities may have to local air quality, water stream protection, displacement of wildlife and general quality of life.
Thomas told Goochland’s board of supervisors on Tuesday that the company is not planning to conduct mining or stone blasting on the 70-acre site, dispelling some of the noise issues raised in May.
Adjoining buffers to the site include a 50-foot natural barrier maintained along the eastern property line, which borders Henrico, as well as a raised boundary or berm with a minimum width of 300 feet to address concerns over viewshed. Additional measures will be taken to ensure wildlife and wetland areas are protected, according to plans presented to the board.
Thomas also said Luck Stone has had open communications with representatives from Henrico homeowners about issues raised by county officials in a letter addressed to Goochland’s planning commission in July.
Henrico Supervisor Misty Whitehead, representing the Three Chopt District and its quarry-adjacent residents, attended that July 18 Goochland planning commission meeting and requested county staff defer the project's approval so that both counties’ residents had more time to evaluate and comment on the project.
“I am equally grateful for Luck Stone being a home-grown company here that has been very valuable to the Goochland community,” Whitehead said in July. “[I] met with members of the Luck Stone Corporation because I know that they want to get this right, and I'm standing before you guys because I think that we are not there yet.”
Whitehead addressed Goochland supervisors again Tuesday, this time joined by some colleagues, including Chairman Tyrone Nelson of Varina, Vice Chair Dan Schmit of Brookland and Tuckahoe District Supervisor Jody Rogish.
Whitehead reiterated Henrico’s desire for Goochland to defer its approval of the Luck Stone rezoning “in the best interest of residents of both counties.” Nearby residents from both counties echoed her sentiments.
Henrico resident Rhonda Desoto told Goochland’s board that deferring the vote gives both residents and herself a chance to get to heart of the issues brought forth by the community and so the board come to a mutual understanding with its residents.
“We have issues, we have concerns, and by all means, we want to continue those discussions,” Desoto said. “By deferring your approval tonight, you’ll allow that to happen and get to a place where we can get something in writing that is comfortable for both sides.”
After the Goochland board’s unanimous approval of Luck Stone’s proposal, Supervisor Neil Spoonhower commended Henrico’s board for advocating on behalf of its residents and sympathized with everyone in close proximity to the quarry.
“I do feel like we have in good faith tried to get to the best project that protects everyone we can, and sometimes folks aren’t going to align,” Spoonhower said.“It's tough when you’re talking about your foundation rocking, your basement rocking, when you moved next to a rock quarry,”
