Planning commission recommends preliminary approval for Goldsboro Materials mine expansion

The Caroline County Planning Commission on March 2026 voted to recommend preliminary approval of a proposed expansion to the Goldsboro Materials mineral-extraction operation near the intersection of Oakland Road and Cherry Lane.

Matt Kaczynski, assistant director of development review for the county’s Planning & Codes Department, told commissioners the application — filed by Gold Spur Materials LLC on behalf of owner David A. Bramble Inc. — would add about 37.96 acres (bringing the permitted mining area to roughly 133.46 acres) and consolidate the operation onto a single parcel as required by county code. Kaczynski said staff and the technical advisory committee found only a small list of items that the applicant has since addressed.

Cheryl Tony of Lane Engineering, the project design drafter, said the expansion is interior to the site, would not change hours of operation or truck volumes, and would reuse existing on-site facilities (wash plant, office, scale and fuel). Tony said the company proposes to transplant trees from a nearby five-acre parcel to bolster the established buffer along Cherry Lane, and to construct a 25-foot berm behind that buffer to improve visual screening and dampen noise.

The presentation noted the Phase 4 area is the last mineable area available on the parcel and that the expansion would extend the life of the mine by about five to seven years, depending on market conditions. Staff confirmed a plat consolidation will be required and that earlier technical comments were addressed.

Commissioners asked about the 200-foot setback and the berm’s placement; staff and the applicant said the berm would sit within the setback behind the existing tree buffer and that the expansion does not request a reduction of the 200-foot setback. The applicant also confirmed that Saturday mining is not proposed in the new phase area.

Chair Jeff Jackson moved to recommend preliminary site-plan approval and forward the special-use exception application to the Board of Zoning Appeals; the motion was seconded and passed on a voice vote.

Next steps: the Board of Zoning Appeals will consider the special-use exception and, if approved there, the project will return to the planning commission for final site-plan action and platting to consolidate parcels.