HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_1640 (2)appropriate place in Iredell County should be. YbO-e the gatekeepers You'll decide where this biodiesel
manufacturing facility will be sited What is going to come? Do we decide to place it in an R-20 zoning, the
most restrictive zoning we have in Iredell County and place it in an M-2 zoning district, which is the least
restrictive from one end to the next polar end Do we put that in an R-20 or do we put it into an industrial
site? There's been testimony tonight that there are plenty of industria/sites here where this can go. If its
placed in an industrial area all of the same positive considerations that have been talked about tonight --first
starting out by the engineers and the experts, and then by the people who have studied this and the farmers
who want it All those apply Al/ those will still be served if this is sited in an industrial area. If you allow this
request, eight acres in the middle of whatever Randy's count was -- 39,000 acres -- you)"e going to constitute
what the law calls a spot zoning. Spot zoning is defined by (a) Is the entity owned by a single ownership?
You've got the McLain family and it is. (b) Will your action free the McLain in this area of restrictions that
now restrict the neighbors? Thots favoritism. That is --could Jerry Mishoe on the east, Bill Pitt on the
southeast, Bryan Leach on the east, Randy Bridges on the south put up their own plant? They couldn't because
they are restricted against it. Your action here, if you allow the McLain to do it is favoritism. This low is
designed so that aboard cannot feather the nest of its own selective friends The third element (c) Is the
site to be rezoned, eight acres in this instance, surrounded by uniformly zoned area? In this case, it is, its R-
20. Its the most restrictive zoning that we have in the county. The McLain led the fight for the R-20
classification, and theygo t it Improper zoning will be struck down by our court system if it passes here. It's
been done in Davie County, next door, and Davidson County, next door.
Questions from the Commissioners
Commissioner Johnson: Directed to the McLain family - During the course of previous discussion someone
mentioned the fact that they might be willing to locate this facility 500 feet from the nearest... was that
from the property line or the nearest neighboring residence.
Phil McLain: Its 500 from the nearest property line. Its even further from residents
Contniss#~ JohAwn: I've got a couple of questions, and Mr. McLain you can choose which one of your
expert witnesses you have with you who would be the most appropriate to respond. The question I have is the
last few days I've read more about biodiesel fuels then about anything else. One of the safety measures that
I've encountered is a nitrogen blanket. Hos either of your experts ever heard about this process and could
they describe it and their assessment? Is it worthwhile?
Jay M. Bailey: Yes sir; it is A nitrogen blanket is a change in the natural atmosphere above one of these
chemical substances by introduction of nitrogen which is a natural inert. Its a completely non-reactive
material and the purity of those streams is typically 99.9% nitrogen in argon.
Commissioner Johnson: Then ten of that is to keep down vapors from the methanol. Is that right?
Joy M. Radey: That is to prevent o flammable mixture of material to be in any existence of the vapor space
above the liquid
Commissioner Johnson: Do you think that thats agood enough idea to incorporate it into this facility. If you
don"t, why not? Do you think a nitrogen blanket is necessary in this type of operation? What i've come to
understand is that there's certainly more than one process by which you can make biodiese/ fuel. Is this
incorporated under this? Is it necessary -2 If it is your opinion that its not necessary, then why is not
necessary?
Jay M. Bailey: Its my professional opinion that it is necessary and its normally incorporated into any design
that our company would be proposing for this type of storage system.
Commissioner Johnson: Have you ever heard of a company called FM Global insurance?
Jay M. Bailey Yes, Factory Mutual6lobal. Yes sir.
Commissioner Johnson: What's your knowledge of them?
Joy M. Bailey: They are an insurance underwriter sir. They would underwrite the insurance of a facility like
this
Commissioner Johnson: What's your opinion of their requirements?
Jay M. Botley: Their requirements are typically industry standards. In my professional opinion, some of their
hazard analysis studies are based upon outdated information that's sometimes incorrect. But it is o
requirement of the insurance industry that they are a consultant to the insurance industry.
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