Company nixes proposal for Franklin quarry

Bryan Pfohl, chairman of The Sunrock Group, said the company decided this past week not to seek a special-use permit for the quarry.

The Sunrock Group had applied to build a facility along N.C. Highway 39 that would produce aggregate stone and sand. The company said it would invest $5 million to start up the project, which would also create up to 50 well-paying jobs.

Opponents of the quarry claimed it would drive down properly values, create noise pollution and might contaminate water supplies.

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners had put Sunrock's permit application on its agenda for an Aug. 18 meeting. Earlier, the county's Planning Board unanimously voted to recommend commissioners not endorse the permit.