MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer
Posted: Monday, August 4, 2008 3:16 pm

Rogers Group has agreed to pay for the widening of Burnt Knob Road to assuage concerns about expanding its holdings in the Blackman community.

The company negotiated with the county and agreed to fund construction and materials to widen Burnt Knob Road to three lanes with a six-foot shoulder from the Murfreesboro-Rutherford County Quarry to the new Beesley Road interchange.

The company has requested a conditional-use permit from the planning commission to rezone approximately 222 acres from residential to industrial for the future expansion of the 20-year-old quarry.

Kenly said Rogers Group met with 250 homeowners and determined the primary concern of area residents is Burnt Knob Road.

According to planning staff comments, the average traffic load on Burnt Knob Road is 2,787 vehicles per day and the developer needs to improve the road by adding turn lanes.

Rutherford County Regional Planning Committee considers the request at its 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11 meeting in the Historic Courthouse.

The conditional-use permit will “secure access to additional reserves,” but not increase current production levels, said Tom Kenley with the Rogers Group.

The company, which bought the quarry in 2000, has 25 years worth of rock in the area it is currently quarrying and the new land will not be used until the current reserve is exhausted.

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.