Public Hearing Set For Gravel Mining Proposal Near Malcolm Elementary School

Project Details From The Staff Report

• Setbacks: The applicant proposes a 100-foot setback along property lines, 250 feet near residential dwellings, and a 300-foot setback near Malcolm Elementary, where mining would only occur during summer months.
• Truck Traffic: The application requests up to 200 truckloads per day, consistent with the zoning ordinance for sites over 100 acres. A traffic impact study was conducted and reviewed by the county.
• Operating Hours: Proposed hours are 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays. There would be no mining on weekends, though equipment repairs may occur on Saturdays. No blasting is permitted.
• Dust & Noise Control: The plan includes use of water trucks to manage dust and compliance with permits from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
• Reclamation Plan: The site is required to be restored after mining concludes, as regulated by MDE.

After the public hearing sign was posted and shared in a Facebook post, many residents voiced their concerns in the comments. While these remarks aren’t part of the official record, they highlight several common concerns:

• Air quality near the school, especially for students with asthma.
• Truck traffic and road safety along Poplar Hill Road, which some say is already heavily used by large vehicles.
• Noise and disruption during school hours.
• The precedent of allowing mining in areas designated for agricultural conservation.

“This proposed gravel pit is right next to Malcolm Elementary! … Imagine all that heavy machinery and scores of dump trucks rumbling by the school,” one commenter wrote in a local Facebook thread.

Others voiced broader frustration over continued development in conservation-zoned areas.