Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 23, 1995 TAG: 9503230069
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Branch President Ralph Shivers said the company, a major Virginia roadbuilder, no longer is actively pursuing two sites in Botetourt County, plans that generated opposition from residents.
Instead, Branch is seeking rezoning of an 11-acre site adjacent to Statesman Industrial Park on Orange Avenue Northeast from light manufacturing to heavy manufacturing to accommodate the plant. Plans call for Branch to build a berm around the plant to screen it from adjacent businesses and Orange Avenue, U.S. 460.
Under the proposal, truck traffic to and from the plant would be routed through the industrial park.
The plan is awaiting approval by the Roanoke Planning Commission. A public hearing on Branch's rezoning request is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. April 5 in City Council chambers at the Municipal Building.
According to Shivers, the plant would be capable of producing about 1,200 tons of asphalt and gravel mix per day. The Roanoke area requires about 500,000 tons of asphalt annually for its road projects.
Branch now buys asphalt from suppliers.
Shivers said the proposed plant, its on-site machinery, and improvements to the property are expected to cost around $2 million. Other equipment stored at the plant and transported to job sites would be worth another $1 million.
Branch ran into opposition to the plant in Botetourt County. It had expressed interest in sites at Blue Ridge and Cloverdale, but never firmly settled on either location.
A citizens' group opposing the plant formed in Blue Ridge, challenging the impact of the plant on a school, a park and residences off Webster Brick Road. Branch had considered locating the asphalt plant on the site of the former Weblite Corp. - a site about to undergo a forced cleanup by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy. Weblite closed in November 1992 after running afoul of state air pollution regulations.
Branch also looked into locating its plant in Simmons Industrial Park in Cloverdale off U.S. 11.
Pressure for Branch to locate its asphalt plant in Botetourt was lessened when it came in second to Adams Construction Co. of Roanoke on a $10 million contract to repave Interstate 81 in Botetourt County.
by CNB