Conservation Groups Propose Environmental Guidelines for Controversial Great Meadows Megasite
Potentially up to 1,300 acres of rural land directly south of Lake James could be developed for industrial use. If the project moves forward, several conservation groups have a plan.
BURKE COUNTY, North Carolina—While careful not to endorse or oppose the development of the Great Meadows Megasite, several local environmental groups have publicly proposed guidelines should the contentious rezoning of hundreds of acres directly south of Lake James become a reality.
Referred to as a “legacy project” by current Burke County Commissioners, they continue holding ”fireside chats” and meetings for concerned citizens. With County Manager Brian Epley at their side—armed with his usual tech deck full of graphs and data—they are doing their best to counteract what they consider major misinformation and myths’ regarding the Megasite.
“Our plan is really three-phased, and it’s very concrete,” Epley says. “We want to first hear concerns. We’re going to make sure those concerns are being considered. We think many already have and likely, once the information is shared appropriately, a lot of those questions will be self-correcting. Next, we want to consider, and then, we want to respond.”
Burke residents are encouraged to reach out to the County Commissioners to set up meetings with small groups where hopes and concerns for the megasite may be addressed. Epley is adamant about the County’s desire to hear the voices of the people.
“We want to listen first,” he continues. “Tell us what your concerns are. You may say something we haven’t thought of, so we want to consider those opinions.”
A Little Background on the Megasite
Last October, the North Carolina State Legislature allocated $35.8 million to be used for land acquisition and infrastructure planning/development for the more than 1,300 acres straddling Burke and McDowell Counties.
In partnership with the County Commissioners, these funds have been awarded to Burke Development Inc. (BDI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization charged with promoting economic development in Burke County. This so-called “quasi-governmental” group is funded by private and public money, according to its LinkedIn page.
Consisting of 14 parcels, the roughly 1,343 acres are presently owned by a private entity, Great Meadows, Inc. Sources say the owners are keen to sell the parcels together either to BDI or another willing developer, should the County decide not to move forward with rezoning several of the parcels.
While a small cut of the land has already been zoned for industrial use, the Megasite proposal spearheaded by BDI aims to rezone a few hundred additional acres as industrial.
Environmental Concerns Regarding the Great Meadows Megasite
As word of the pending Megasite spread throughout Burke in December, opposition to the development quickly found vocal opposition, especially from nearby residents who value living in and around “Nature’s Playground.”
A Change.org petition was launched on December 16th by William “Buzz” Connell, expressing that “this will have negative impacts on the water, rivers, air, and soil,” and bring undesirable noise, light pollution, and traffic to a rural part of the county known for its natural landscape.
2,382 people had signed the petition as of Thursday morning, February 29th.
"I'm concerned about the pollution, especially for the water and it's destroying the environment around here," Burke County resident Dudley Greene says. "We moved from west Charlotte up here in 1960 to get away from the growth and now they're trying to turn this place into a parking lot," Greene said. "It's ridiculous, I mean it's crazy."
Three Republican primary candidates—Brian Barrier, Shawn Freeman, and Mike Stroud—running for open seats at the County Commissioner’s Board have openly opposed the Megasite.
Alternatively, the incumbent Commissioners up for reelection—Scott Mulwee, Jeff Brittain, and Johnnie Carswell—have been notably cautious when stating their public views on it. Nonetheless, many residents feel the current Commissioners seem to have already made up their minds about pushing this Megasite forward.
Attempting to address worries about the environmental impacts of such a massive project, Epley shared the County’s commitment to protect the beauty and health of the local ecosystem.
“There is an unwavering intentionality to partner with someone in a corporate citizen role who aligns with Burke County values,” Epley said. “We’re not going to put an oil-pumping company out there, or a mining company. That doesn’t align with who Burke County is.”
Local Environmental Organizations Finally Speak Up, Sort Of
Many have eagerly awaited public statements from important conservation groups in the area. That wait is now over.
On Friday, February 23rd, Catawba Riverkeeper (CR), Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina (FCNC), and Lake James Environmental Association (LJEA) published a joint “Proposed Conservation Site Plan.”
Again, none of these groups stated their support or opposition to the industrial development per se, but rather what environmental protections need to be in place should development proceed.
Having closely followed the Megasite project, they believe it “raises legitimate concerns” about the area’s drinking water supply, among other issues.
“Lake James is a major economic driver for the region due to its excellent water quality, limitless recreational opportunities, and substantial tax base for Burke and McDowell counties,” the proposal states.
Their guidelines deal directly with “stream buffers, permanent land conservation, setbacks for the community and viewshed, and public recreation access,” and are designed to protect the environment and local community.
The conservational coalition’s primary goal is to “present a plan that focuses on protecting the human and natural environments around the site while accommodating development.”
There’s also a sentiment among the more communitarian-minded that this mass-scale type of industrial development runs in stark contrast with other forms of sustainable and locally rooted economic activities already present in Burke County, and gaining momentum.
The Conservation Guidelines
In that spirit, CR, FCNC, and LJEA recommend limiting industrial development to five contiguous parcels (8, 10, 11, 12, 13) and placing environmental restrictions on the undevelopable portions of those parcels.
The nine remaining parcels would then become permanently conserved through either easements or fee simple donations and maintained by FCNC, which already protects over 70,000 acres in the region, including the recently opened Oak Hill Community Park and Forest just west of Morganton.
Furthermore, the parcels zoned for industrial use would include vegetated buffers meant to reduce noise and visual impacts, hopefully protecting the picturesque landscape.
A possible rail connection is under consideration, but these conservation groups argue for omitting it from the plan, “as it would likely cross and impact the most environmentally sensitive parcel, which includes a significant 3.5-acre wetland, and the rugged terrain of that area of the site is not conducive to rail access.”
As a way of further rooting environmental stewardship and an appreciation for the outdoors in this part of Appalachia, “the plan also proposes the establishment of recreational assets for use by employees of future industries” and “the local community.”
This conservational coalition recognizes how economically transformative this project could be for the Foothills region—and in other materially disadvantaged parts of southern Appalachia—but believes “it must be done responsibly.” They are fully prepared to partner with BDI and the County Commissioners to ensure solutions are put in place that “protect the integrity of the human and natural environments of the site itself, and of the immediate vicinity adjacent to the proposed Megasite should it be developed.”
Burke is filled with many environmentally conscious people eager to maintain its beauty, natural resources, outdoor opportunities, and distinct sense of place.
“This is not by accident,” the group continues, “rather, this has been achieved through continued protection and stewardship of these resources by local government, state and federal natural resource agencies, non-profit organizations, and the citizens who call this place home. Without continued conservation and protection of these resources, they can quickly degrade.”
If the County Commissioners choose to rezone and purchase this large swath of land, the hope is that they’ll work closely with local conservation groups ready to “provide guidance on how to maintain the health, vibrancy, and essence of Burke County.”
Burke County residents better have a say in what types of companies come into the Megasite, presuming this happens. Also, what is being done with the other industrial park we already have in Burke?
Would be awesome to have those parcels become conservational lands. And if some industries come in, I hope they're sustainable and not extractive.