The Forsyth County planning board, which serves as a recommending committee for the Board of Commissioners, held their monthly public hearing Tuesday, May 23, where they discussed two zoning applications that may be decided at the Board of Commissioners June 15 meeting.
Landfill gas refinery plant passes planning board
• What: Clean Eagle RNG LLC wants to rezone 10.4 acres from agriculture district (A1) to restricted industrial district (M1) with a conditional use permit (CUP) for a proposed gas refinery plant totaling 15,730 square feet with five parking spaces.
The company captures gases emitted by landfills from the decomposition of waste and converts gases like methane and carbon dioxide into “desirable” natural gas that is sold to Atlanta Gas Light for use. Currently, the gases emitted from the landfill are burnt off, producing a foul smell.
• Where: On north Forsyth’s Eagle Point Landfill just east of Old Federal Road.
• Comments: Planning members initially liked the idea, but at a public hearing last month, residents voiced their anger over the landfill’s imminent expansion, and the board chose to postpone the application so Clean Eagle’s developer could meet with residents and explain the process of gas refinery and help them understand the intent of the plant.
Tuesday, District 4 planning board member Bettina Hammond said she has attended several meetings and had Forsyth’s Emergency Management Agency create a disaster release plan, should anything ever happen to the plant.
EMA Director and Fire Chief Danny Bowman presented the plan and said he had no concern his firemen could handle an issue with the plant, if one should arise.
• Vote: 4-1, with District 3 board member Patrick Britt opposed.
Proposal to add 37-lot subdivision to approved 57 lots gets OK
• What: Post Sosebee LLC is asking to rezone about 28 acres from A1 to single family residential Res-3 district for 37 residential lots with a density of 1.33 units per acre.
• Where: Off Karr Road in north Forsyth, west of Dr. Bramblett Road.
• Comments: District 1 planning board member Rusty Whitlow, whose district the application falls in, said at a previous work session though he generally supported the request, he would likely condition some larger lots close to Karr Road. In December, the BOC approved a 57-lot Res-3 subdivision adjacent to this property, which the developer wants to combine to create one large subdivision.
At the public hearing, Whitlow chose to down-zone the application to Res-2, with homes to be a minimum of 3,700 square feet.
* Vote: 5-0.