LUMBERTON — The Robeson County Board of Commissioners on Monday will consider granting a conditional-use permit to Atlantic Coast Pipeline LLC that allows the placement of a public utilities station and a 350-foot-tall microwave cell tower in Pembroke.
The location of the proposed station and tower is on N.C. 710, on 2.86 acres of a 17.608-acre tract owned by Piedmont Natural Gas Company Inc.
Atlantic Coast Pipeline is a partnership consisting of subsidiaries of Dominion Resources, Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas and Southern Company.
According to information provided to Dixon Ivey Jr., Robeson County’s zoning administrator, the partnership was formed “specifically” to own, develop, construct, operate and maintain the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, a 600-mile interstate natural gas transmission pipeline that is originating in Harrison County, West Virginia., running southeast to Northhampton County in North Carolina, and then south into eastern North Carolina and east into the Hampton Roads area of Virginia.
It will end near Pembroke.
The company says that the natural gas transported by the Atlantic Coast Pipeline will be used to generate electricity, heat homes, run local businesses and increase the reliability and security of natural gas supplies in Virginia and North Carolina.
Plans for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline include three interconnections with existing pipeline facilities of Piedmont Natural Gas in North Carolina, one of which is located in Pembroke. This interconnection enables natural gas supplies “for further distribution,”according to the company.
The company says that the microwave tower will be part of the “communications backbone” of the pipeline and will be used for the monitoring, control, security and safety of the pipeline.
Before any vote being taken Monday on the conditional-use permit, a public hearing will be held.
In other business, the commissioners will hold a public hearing on incentives for a new industry planning to locate in Robeson County.
The company, dubbed “Project Cloth,” plans to invest $700,000 for equipment, machinery and a building. Forty-four jobs would be created at an hourly wage of $12.
The project qualifies for a Level 1, 50 percent Economic Development Grant. Written comments submitted to Robeson County Manager Ricky Harris before the hearing will be made a part of the record.
According to the business agenda, the commissioners will also:
— Consider three requests for conditional-use permits: a permit to allow for the establishment of a cemetery for Northside Independent Church in Back Swamp on a 14.15-acre tract in a Residential Agricultural District; a permit to allow Jack Maynor to establish an inspection station and make small vehicle repairs on a 1.2-acre tract in a Residential Agricultural District in Shannon; and a permit to allow Yadira Sanchez to establish a beauty salon on a .45-acre tract in a Residential Agricultural District in Red Springs.
— Consider a request from Charles Stephen Stone to rezone one acre of a 5.1-acre tract in a Residential Agricultural District in Lumberton to allow for a duplex for multi-family living.
— Consider a resolution requesting authorization for Robeson County to levy a room occupancy tax.
— Consider appointments to the Robeson County Public Library board of trustees, Lumber River Workforce Development Board and the Airport Commission.
— Consider an agreement regarding economic incentives for Campbell Soup Company.
The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at county administration building on North Elm Street in downtown Lumberton.
