Owner of East Flat Rock asphalt company addresses critics
EAST FLAT ROCK, N.C. (WLOS) — The owner of an East Flat Rock asphalt company responded to criticism surrounding his plans to build a plant in Henderson County. Southeastern Asphalt held a public meeting Tuesday night to answer people’s questions.
Owner Jeff Shipman said he’s seen the backlash about his proposal and wanted to address people’s concerns.
“The fact is, if we were to go in there and put this plant in right now, no one would hear it, they wouldn’t see it, they wouldn’t smell it, they wouldn’t even know it’s there,” Shipman said.
Shipman wants to build an asphalt drum plant off Spartanburg Highway. In order to do that, he has to get a zoning change approved by Henderson County commissioners.
Shipman said the plant would create 20 jobs and that it would be following all environmental regulations.
“We cannot have any emissions travel beyond our property lines, period,” he said.
SOME EAST FLAT ROCK RESIDENTS VOW TO FIGHT PLANNED ASPHALT PLANT
Shipman said the plant would not be using the full 6.5 acres.
“We’ve said we’re going to leave the 5 acres untouched, undisturbed,” Shipman said.
People who went to Tuesday’s meeting said they appreciated the effort Shipman was making to communicate. However, some said they will still be concerned.
“I think that it’s going to be tough to change my mind in that regard,” Erik Riewerts said.
Riewerts lives down the street from where the plant would go.
“The point of me coming tonight is to kind of clarify the risk associated if the plant goes through then what,” he added.
MEETING DOES NOT EASE WORRIES ABOUT PROPOSED ASPHALT PLANT IN EAST FLAT ROCK
Some people who live and work near where the plant would go have been protesting it for months.
There is a petition against it with more than 9,400 signatures.
“It’s really flooring, almost. I never figured that there would be this much opposition to it,” Shipman said.
Shipman said the plant is needed so the company can make its own asphalt instead of having to rely on its competition to make it for them.
“This plant is essential to our survival, and that is a fact,” Shipman said.
The asphalt plant’s application will go in front of the Henderson County planning board on Aug. 20.
