By Erica Thomas, managing editor
PINSON — After weeks of discussions over a possible annexation and rezoning for a quarry in the Clay area, City Manager Ronnie Dixon said a spokesperson for Vulcan Materials informed him the plans have been put on hold.
“They are hitting the pause button,” Dixon said. “They do not want me to schedule any meetings for the foreseeable future.”
Walker Family Holdings Ltd. owns the land and the owner, Johnny Walker, applied for annexation in early October.
The properties in question are: 5886, 5890, 5880 and 6480 Clay Palmerdale Road; 6638 and 6642 Mountain Heights Road; 7280 Self Road; 7605 Highland Drive; and 7641, 7575, 7585 and 7557 Cedar Mountain Road.
Concerned citizens spoke up during a City Council meeting opposing the annexation of those properties, which are currently in Jefferson County.
Dixon said before the meeting, he was made aware that Vulcan Materials was planning to have a long-term lease to mine limestone rock from the 700 acres. First the city would have to annex the property into Clay, then rezone it as a I-3 Mining and Manufacturing District.
Dixon said although the annexation request has been paused, those opposed to a quarry should know the issue is not over.
“They need to be forever vigilant that they don’t pop up at the county seeking to be rezoned,” said Dixon. “If Johnny Walker decided they wanted to move forward with anybody that wanted to mine that property, they would have to apply for rezoning through the county.”
If that happened, there would be a public hearing before the county’s Planning and Zoning and before the Jefferson County Commission.
Commissioner Joe Knight said he has not been approached by any entity concerning the property.
