By Tabitha Evans Moore
Editor & Publisher

LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — A proposal to reopen a rock quarry along Highway 50 took its first step through the local approval process Tuesday night as the Metro Moore County Planning & Zoning Commission voted to send the project to Metro Council for further consideration. The motion to move the project forward came from Jeff Ross and Jim Crawford seconded the motion. It passes unanimously with Chair Dexter Golden, Ross, Crawford, Bobby Carroll, and Jimmy Hammond voting in favor. Angelica Lightfoot was absent from the meeting. Scott Fruehauf abstained from the vote due to a potential conflict of interest.

The request involves a preliminary site plan review tied to potential rezoning for a proposed operation known as Lynchburg Stone, LLC, owned by Fruehauf.

During the meeting, Fruehauf outlined plans to operate a small-scale quarry intended primarily to serve local demand. The site includes roughly 100 acres of property and would rely on diesel-powered crushing and screening equipment rather than electric service. According to the Fruehauf, the operation is expected to produce about 20,000 tons of rock annually and could create several local jobs while generating mineral tax revenue for the county.

Residents and neighboring landowners raised concerns during the public comment portion of the meeting, particularly about potential impacts to nearby property. One resident, Aurelia Swann, said the quarry’s previous operation in the 1960s, 1970s, and early 1980s caused sinkholes and other damage on nearby land and asked for assurances that any future issues would be addressed if the quarry reopens.

Another speaker, Chris White — who serves as the director of the Bedford County Planning Commission and whose wife owns a competing quarry on Buckeye Loop Road — urged the commission to consider potential long-term environmental effects associated with quarry operations in Middle Tennessee’s karst landscape. He warned that water accumulation in abandoned quarries can affect surrounding groundwater systems, potentially causing springs, sinkholes and soil loss on nearby farms.

Fruehauf responded to White’s concerns by stating that modern blasting practices are heavily regulated and said the operation would use third-party monitoring and seismographs placed on surrounding properties to track vibration levels. Fruehauf also said the project would carry insurance and bonding to address any potential damage claims and would rely on state highways for truck traffic to limit impact on county roads.

“I think this is going to be a good locally-owned, locally-operated quarry to service local people,” Fruehauf stated.

Planning Commission members emphasized that Tuesday’s vote does not approve the quarry itself. Instead, the board voted to forward the proposal to Metro Council so elected officials can decide whether the property should be rezoned or whether the project should proceed through a special exception process.

The land is currently zoned agricultural. Previously, Metro Planning and Metro Council members have preferred to grant A-1 exceptions rather than rezoning land as Industrial to prevent other “dirty” industrial from coming in if the project should fail. In Moore County, property is taxed according to use and not according to zoning.

Even if local approval is granted, the quarry would still need to obtain multiple state permits from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation before operations could begin.

Planning Chair Golden recommended that Lynchburg Stone consult with Tony Grow – the area environmental engineer who acts as a consultant for Moore County on the Silicon Ranch Solar Farm — on an environmental impact study prior to any final approval.

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What happens next?

The Planning Commission voted to forward the proposal to the Moore County Metro Council. Council members will decide whether to approve the requested rezoning or pursue another path, such as requiring a special exception for the quarry operation. Council members may request more information about traffic, environmental impacts, blasting practices and site plans before making a decision. Residents will also have another opportunity to speak during the council meeting.

If Metro Council approves the zoning change or the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) approves a special exception, the project could move forward locally. If council denies the request, the proposal cannot proceed.

Even with local approval, the quarry would still need multiple permits from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), including stormwater, air quality and environmental compliance permits. Before operations begin, a full site plan and environmental controls would be finalized and reviewed. State agencies would continue monitoring the site to ensure ongoing compliance. •

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