Angier residents raise concerns about asphalt plant proposal

Angier resident Carlotta Reyes said the town is quaint with southern charm.

"I was always attracted to the farmland here, and my husband said he wanted to get a place with more land," she said.

Next door to Reyes is 15 acres of wide open space, which Highland Paving wants to use for an asphalt plant.

Reyes said signs on the site along N.C. Highway 210 caught her attention.

"I was just surprised," she said. "I didn't know what to take of it. I definitely don't want to be living next to an asphalt plant."

Highland Paving is a construction company with asphalt plants in Fayetteville and in Leland, just outside Wilmington.

A special-use permit obtained by WRAL News shows the proposed development is valued at $4 million. The applicant wrote on the proposal that the plant would provide up to 30 jobs and reduce travel time for trucks getting asphalt for new construction and road repairs.

"I'm worried about devaluation, [and] I'm worried about toxic fumes," said Reyes.

Lillian Jarmon, an Angier resident of more than 20 years, said she didn’t know about the potential plan.

"It would just be nice to know about this stuff happening near us because it can really affect us, our health and things of that nature," said Jarmon.

WRAL News reached out to every commissioner in Anger, the planning director and Angier Mayor Bob Smith.

"Any questions regarding this proposed asphalt plant would have to be referred to the town manager," Smith said in a statement.

The applicant with Highland Paving said he didn't have any comment.

A special meeting will take place on April 20 to talk about the special-use permit.