Plant rezoning OK’d

Published 11:24 am Saturday, October 13, 2012

COURTLAND—The Southampton County Planning Commission on Thursday unanimously recommended rezoning 20 acres for a $4 million to $6 million concrete and asphalt plant on Route 460 west of Ivor.

The commission’s recommendation will be passed onto the Board of Supervisors, which will hear the request during its 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22, meeting at the County Government Center in Courtland.

“I’m glad they supported our endeavors to make this go as smoothly as possible,” said Amanda Jarratt, president and chief operating officer for Franklin Southampton Economic Development Inc. FSEDI, the county’s lead economic development agency, has worked with Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance to bring Virginia-based AMAC here.

“It looks like this will stay on track and the company (owner) said after last night, he felt very welcome.”

AMAC has an agreement to buy a property west of Sadler Road from Western Tidewater businessman Ron Parsons. The property, which has fields and woods, must be rezoned from agriculture to industrial.

Without the rezoning, the company has said it would go elsewhere.

AMAC expects to create up to 50 jobs that will pay $10 an hour for laborers and up to $75,000 to $100,000 annually for management.

Construction on the plant could begin during the first or second quarter of 2013 with operations beginning in the third quarter.

AMAC chose the property because it borders Route 460 and a Norfolk Southern rail-line. The company hopes to have stone shipped in by rail and plans to have a 1,700-foot spur built.

There was no opposition to the rezoning, just a concern by Ivor Councilman Merrell Carr for the town’s well, which is Ivor’s water supply.

AMAC will need about 750 gallons of water a day.

“That shouldn’t have a negative impact on the town water system,” Jarratt said.

AMAC agreed to stipulations, which include limiting its operation between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. except Sundays and a 20-foot buffer with a combination of landscaping, fencing and vegetation, said Beth Lewis, director of community development for the county

The county is also willing to provide financial incentives to AMAC. Nothing will be worked out until the rezoning is approved.

The company could generate $600,000 in real estate, machinery and tools, and personal property taxes for the county over 10 years.