The Pitt County Planning Board recommended approval of a conditional rezoning request from HSP Investments LLC to allow a sand-mining operation on about 33.4 acres off Alvin Road, subject to multiple conditions including route limitations for truck traffic, environmental permits and screening.

Planning staff described the site as largely within flood-prone and wetland areas and said the future land-use map designates most of the property as open-space conservation. Staff explained that the conditional district approach lets the county approve a specific use with enforceable conditions, and noted that the zoning ordinance contains specific standards for mining operations, including minimum separations, screening and state mining permits.

“Planning staff does find that the request is consistent with Envision Pitt County 2045 comprehensive land use plan,” the presenter said, noting that similar active sand mines exist in the area and that staff recommended approval with conditions.

Ken Malpass, who said he has worked on the project for about a year, explained how truck traffic will be routed: “Wewe've worked out with 2 adjacent properties to take this path across the red area that was shown, and we'll go back out through the trip farm. So all the trucks will go out through the same entrance that, trip brothers, and he's actually the 1 that's gonna be digging and using this proposed sand mine.”

Staff listed the recommended conditions: no zoning compliance permit until an approved site plan is submitted; a minimum 6-foot perimeter screening berm as an alternative screening method; flood-development and erosion-control permits from Pitt County and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) prior to work; a 50-foot riparian buffer on streams unless otherwise exempted; routing of truck traffic through specified existing parcels to avoid the Alvin Road curve; signs prohibiting truck traffic at a particular driveway on Parcel 1697; and proposed hours of operation of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Board member Lisa Ellison moved to recommend approval and Lyman Hardy seconded; the motion carried. Planning staff said the Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on August 18.

The board’s conditions require state and county permits (DEQ mining permit, erosion-control plan, flood-development permit) and County approvals (site plan and NCDOT driveway permit) before mining activity can start. The routing and signage requirements are intended to keep heavy truck traffic away from the Alvin Road curve and nearby residences. Planning staff also noted that the zoning-code minimum separations and screening requirements for mines must be met and that the applicant proposed a berm to satisfy screening requirements.