Asphalt company cancels bid

Asphalt company GRR Land of Virginia, LLC has pulled its application for a proffer amendment and special use permit after receiving an enormous backlash from surrounding communities.

Last month, members of several adjacent communities protested proposals by both GRR and Finley Asphalt & Sealing Inc. to build asphalt plants near their homes and schools.

Mike Coughlin, who is representing GRR, said the company was very disappointed with the amount of opposition to the plan but said from a public relations standpoint, removing their application was the smart thing to do.

With the company already trucking their recycled asphalt material to the county from suburban Maryland, GRR remains committed to finding another location to cut down on travel costs, said Coughlin. Coughlin also said he hopes to have county staff look into the matter even closer to help educate the public about their product.

“GRR is confident that once accurate information is made available to interested parties, it will become clear that GRR proposes a truly ‘green’ project that significantly reduces the cost, energy consumption and emissions associated with producing pavement materials,” stated spokesperson Harold Green in a a press release issued Tuesday by GRR.

Victory Lakes resident Alex Kot, who helped organize the protest, said they are not against asphalt companies but against asphalt companies being so close to the neighborhoods and schools.

Prince William County Supervisor W. S. “Wally” Covington III, R-Brentsville, agreed, saying no other issue in his district has elicited such a response from community members. Covington cited truck traffic and property devaluation as primary reasons for his opposition and wrote a letter to the company requesting the revocation of the application.

“PWC is open for business,” Covington said. “...[But] you have to find a place for those businesses, and this turned out to not be the right place.”

If allowed to operate, the GRR asphalt plant would have been located within a mile of several subdivisions including Victory Lakes, Braemar, Saybrooke, Bridlewood Manor and Sheffield Manor. Residents cited health concerns as one of their main issues with the plant.

Last month, the Prince William County planning commission voted 5-3 to approve a proffer change that would have permitted asphalt companies to locate at that site. The GRR site — which is located in the Broad Run Industrial Park — permits heavy industrial uses, but was proffered in 1989 to not allow asphalt plants.

Before the company’s decision to remove its application, board chairman Corey A. Stewart, R-at large, recommended that the board postpone a public hearing on the matter that was scheduled for June 23.

Last month, the planning commission voted 7-1 to recommend the approval of Finley’s special use permit. However, that issue has been tabled indefinitely by the board.

Last month, a spokesperson for Finley said they are coming up with a educational package that will clear up any issues relating to their plant. If built, the Finley plant would be located at 9514 Hornbaker Road in Manassas.

Staff writer Kipp Hanley can be reached at 703-878-8062.