Planning Commission Denies General Shale’s Mining Request
General Shale’s rezoning request for a new mining site on Fosters Mill Road will go onto the Floyd County Commission with a recommendation to deny from the Rome-Floyd Planning Commission. The Planning Commission voted 9-to-1 against the application that would allow for shallow surface mining for shale materials on 177 acres near Cave Spring. Greg Bowles with General Shale said he hopes to get a different verdict from the full commission on February the 5th.
Several adjoining property owners attended the Planning Commission meeting to express concerns about issues ranging from the impact of the operation on springs that supply Cave Spring and Floyd County water customers to increased truck traffic on the curvy road.
As for the water, a representative, speaking on behalf of the company said the mining would only go about 40-feet deep, well above the water table.
The Floyd County Commission will have the final say on the matter during its February 5th meeting.
