Harrisburg Neighbors Fighting Plan for Industrial Park

HARRISBURG, NC – Neighbors who fought and won a battle to keep a rock quarry out of their community say they’re facing a new challenge. The same developer wants to rezone a 132-acre property in Harrisburg for an industrial park.

“They’re wanting to forget about us, as far as the residents in the area,” says Harrisburg resident Bobby Measmer.

Measmer says he’s upset, but not surprised a developer came back with another proposal for this 132-acre plot near his home in Harrisburg. “It’s very, it’s very disheartening,” he says.

Last year, Meade Gunnell Engineering pulled their request to rezone the land on Mulberry Road after public outcry over plans for a rock mine.

Now, Harrisburg Town Council will consider a new request to develop the property as an industrial park.

“It’s a vague, it’s a vague proposal,” says neighbor Wendy Garofalo.

Garofalo’s family owns property next to where the park would be. She worries approving the plan could still open the door to mining in the future.

“Hopefully they see that as, ‘OK we’ve got this guy that wants to come in and develop this property but he’s not giving us a whole lot of details. So is this a red flag?'” she says.

In the application, the engineering company is promising a 75-foot buffer surrounding the industral park. But neighbors say they remain concerned about the impact on property values.

Measmer says his family has lived in the area for over 70 years and he wants it to stay the same for future generations.

“I plan on passing it to my kids, you know and it’s something that I want them to be able to enjoy the same peaceful area that I was able to enjoy growing up,” he says.

At Tuesday night’s meeting, the planning and zoning board will only give a recommendation. The full town council is expected to take up the issue in April.

WCCB reached out to the engineering company for more details about their proposed industrial park, but didn’t hear back.