Brunswick County residents gather outside the courthouse with Center Attorneys Elizabeth Haddix and Peter Gilbert
The
Center continues to represent the Royal Oak Concerned Citizens Association
(ROCCA) in opposition to Brunswick County’s efforts to construct a new
Construction & Demolition landfill in the majority African American Royal
Oak community.
At the continuation of the Special Exception Permit (SEP)
hearing before the Brunswick Planning Board on January 9, 2012, a real estate
appraiser retained by Operations Services gave his opinion that the proposed
landfill will be in harmony with and not substantially injurious to
properties in the vicinity. The appraiser was unaware of the number of
residential properties near the proposed site - many of which are owned by ROCCA
members who were present at the hearing - and had never spoken with surrounding
residents. The appraiser’s opinion was based on a “ring study” of
property values from tax records and on comparisons with properties near
landfills in other counties that have been closed and capped - some with added parks
and green spaces. One Planning Board member commented during the hearing:
"You come here, in my opinion, with comparisons of landfills that are not
comparable and are not showing the impact that citizens of this county would
potentially feel if the expansion was approved."
The
SEP hearing continues on February 13, 2012, at 1:00 p.m. Operation Services is
expected to finish presenting its case for approval of its permit application,
and then the Center will present testimony from residents of the Royal Oak
community as well as from expert witnesses, including a real property appraiser
and public health researcher.
News on continued January 9, 2011 Special Exception Permit Hearing:
- Landfill expansion plan sparks concern on property values,
Star News, (Jan. 9, 2012)
- Hearing for Brunswick landfill expansion continues, WECT, (Jan. 10, 2012)
- Hearing on landfill expansion continued until February, Brunswick Beacon (Jan. 10, 2012)
- Brunswick County taxpayers paying for landfill not yet open, WECT (Jan. 10, 2012)
Posted by Mark Dorosin on Tue. January 24, 2012 4:36 PM
Categories: Brunswick County, Community Inclusion, Environmental Justice, Race Discrimination