Athens council approves permanent concrete batch plant permit for site on US 175 with vegetated screen condition

The Athens City Council on Dec. 22 approved the final reading of an ordinance granting a Specific Use Permit for a permanent concrete batch plant at Block 1, Lot 13C of the J. I. Richardson Subdivision, with a physical address of 502 US 175 W. The owner is Martin Marietta.

City Planner Ronda Cockerham explained that one remaining item required on the site plan was the location of a vegetated barrier. City Manager Elizabeth Borstad confirmed staff were working through other plan comments and asked that the developer show the vegetated screen on the site plan. City Secretary Bonnie Hambrick read the ordinance caption as required for final reading.

A motion to approve the Specific Use Permit with the vegetated screen added to the site plan was made by Councilwoman Katha Lawyer and seconded by Councilmember Bryan Barker. After a roll-call vote the motion passed 5-0 (Aaron Smith, SyTanna Freeman, Bryan Barker, Katha Lawyer and Bill Priestley voted in favor).

The ordinance approval is the final reading and includes the added condition that the vegetated screen be included on the site plan; additional staff review items were noted but not enumerated on the record. Council took no separate action on mitigation, monitoring, or operational conditions beyond the site-plan requirement during this session.