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Watkins Ford Road LCID Landfill Special Use Permit (F-1667)

At a glance

(From auto-captions; names and numbers may be misheard.)

  • What: a special use permit (F-1667) for a land clearing and inert debris landfill greater than 2 acres on about 69.5 acres on the south side of Watkins Ford Road, east of High Point Road, with about 37 acres of fill in two cells and a leaf recycling area. The same operator already runs a similar landfill across the road.
  • Where it stands: approved 6-1 on July 30, 2026 after a sworn quasi-judicial hearing.
  • Related: Salem Chapel Road LCID Landfill Special Use Permit (F-1671) is a separate landfill request.

Log

  • 2026-07-30 - Board of County Commissioners - Staff said the planning board found on March 12 that the site plan meets the minimum UDO requirements; the property is large lot residential in the area plan, but the use is allowed by special use permit in the agricultural district. The applicant's team described phased cells, 100-foot buffers, groundwater monitoring at least 4 feet below the fill and a 25 to 30 year life, with no fines at the existing site. A nearby resident opposed the permit over creek runoff, truck wear on the road and dust. The board approved the permit 6-1.
  • 2026-07-30 - Board of County Commissioners (minutes) - Official record: Chris Murphy presented (69.50 acres; Planning Board found the site plan compliant on March 12) and Gordon Watkins outlined the four findings. G. Gray Wilson asked about road conditions and Murphy said a landfill is already there and road improvements are planned without a timeline. The operator said the existing site is about 11 acres with the expansion, that fire procedures are in place and that a past fire was not incendiary; a real estate firm reported 74 sales in the nearest neighborhood over about 1,000 days at 98.4 percent of asking price. Nearby residents raised creek, watershed and heavier-truck concerns. Gloria D. Whisenhunt moved approval, Chairman Don Martin seconded; passed 6-1, with Tonya D. McDaniel opposed.
  • 2026-07-27 - Board of County Commissioners Briefing - Briefing: about 70 acres next to an existing site operating since 2018; staff said the site plan meets ordinance requirements, took no position on the property-value finding, and reminded commissioners the hearing is quasi-judicial.

Sources