ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The Buncombe County Board of Adjustment held a quasi-judicial hearing today to determine the future of a Special Use Permit filed by Southern Concrete Materials.

The SUP would be one step closer to the construction of a controversial concrete plant near a residential neighborhood north of Asheville.

Residents of the neighborhood, which roughly encompasses Goldview Road, Spanish Oaks and Patti Lane, have sought to contest the SCM plant, citing environmental concerns like carcinogenic fly ash and community worries about heavy truck traffic.

During the meeting, held from noon to 4 p.m. today, Jan. 8, at 30 Valley St., the bulk of the conversation was dedicated to three community members attempting to gain legal status to participate in the hearing as a Party with Standing.

To become a Party with Standing, an individual must prove that they have been uniquely affected by a proposed project. If approved, they gain the ability to introduce evidence and cross-examine witnesses. If denied, they are relegated to witness status.

Dr. Christina Sobin, a Spanish Oaks resident and environmental researcher, has led the neighborhood effort to delay the SCM hearing. In her standing application, Sobin emphasized her desire to gain expert information about the potential environmental consequences of the SCM plant, something she felt the neighborhood had not been able to organize in the three weeks between notification and actualization of the hearing.

However, Sobin and the other neighborhood petitioners were denied standing. According to a unanimous decision from the Board of Adjustment, they could not prove that they would be uniquely, specially affected by the concrete plant, resulting in the rejection of their applications.

While SCM, represented by attorney Craig Justus, assured Sobin and the rest of the packed room that they were seeking transparent communication with the community, they maintained their desire to see the project through.

Warren Sugg, the civil engineer hired by SCM, was the first witness called by the company to give an overview of the project to the BOA. Sugg had previously outlined the SCM plans at a community meeting held last week.

Read more about that meeting in our story here.

The meeting came to a close at 4 p.m. The matter will be picked up again in February at the next BOA hearing.

For more information about the meeting today, visit this link on www.buncombecounty.org.