Citizens will have the opportunity to speak their minds about a proposed limestone mining quarry just outside Adairsville city limits. An application has been submitted to the Bartow County Planning Commission requesting that this property, located at 1620 Highway 140, be rezoned to allow the building of a quarry.
The city of Adairsville is on record opposing this rezoning, and on Sept. 22 Mayor Kenneth Carson issued a message to residents encouraging them to attend the Bartow County Planning Commission meeting on Oct. 4.
The application, submitted by Georgia Stone Products LLC, requests a land use change from Rural Estate to Mining and a rezoning request from A-1 (agriculture) to A-1 with conditions to M-1 (mining). It involves several parcels, totaling 715.41 acres.
In July the city of Adairsville sent a letter to the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission, Bartow County Commissioner Steve Taylor, and County Manager Peter Olson outlining several concerns about the proposed plant. These include potential consequences on city residents, traffic impacts, and quality of life.
The Adares subdivision is located near the site of the proposed quarry as well. The city’s letter expresses concern about the effect this project could have on property values.
Citizens have also spoken out against this project. Beth Lewis attended the latest Bartow County Board of Education meeting and asked the board to officially oppose the rezoning. Lewis stated that she represented a large group of Bartow County residents who are also opposed to this application. She referenced the fact that there have been numerous accidents in this area, including one that resulted in the death of Cass Middle School teacher Ginger Thompson last fall.
“[Thompson] was driving to school last Oct. 8 and clipped the end of a cement truck, which happened to be making a left hand turn into our farm,” Lewis said. “While I didn’t see it happen, I’ll never forget the sound of that crash or turning around to see her car on fire. It was truly one of the worst days of my life, being there when Mrs. Thompson passed.”
Lewis argued that the quarry would only further exacerbate the issues of traffic safety in the area.
WBHF has reached out to Georgia Stone Products and is awaiting comment.
The Bartow County Planning Commission will hear this application on Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. at the Bartow County Courthouse. The meeting room has been relocated to Top Floor Courtroom D to accommodate a large crowd.