Staff report
Rowan County has once again put a stop to work at High Rock Raceway.
The race track project on the former N.C. Finishing Co. site is under a restraining order to prevent all land-disturbing activity until an erosion control plan for the entire site has been submitted, and the county has approved it.
The county sought the restraining order in September after developers ignored repeated warnings from the county and state about going ahead with grading without required plans and permits.
The latest issue arose earlier this month, according to Code Enforcement Officer Lloyd Pace.
High Rock Raceway representatives asked if they could cut brush on the site with a rotary mower. The county gave approval.
A week or so later, the county discovered crews were at work cutting trees over the entire property, which is nearly 200 acres. The felled trees are evident in piles scattered over the property.
Pace said he notified High Rock officials and the workers that they had to stop pending submission and approval of the erosion control plan. He said Wednesday that all tree cutting has stopped.
The restraining order, signed by Superior Court Judge Larry Ford in September, ordered High Rock Properties, the development company, to cease and desist any and all land-disturbing activities, including grading, clearing, cutting timber or underbrush of any kind.
High Rock Properties has limited approval to restore a previously disturbed stream and to remove sludge from large holding ponds left over from the textile mill that operated at the site for decades.
Pace visited the site Thursday along with an inspector from the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Pace said recent rains have left the area too wet to deal with the stream restoration or the sludge removal. That work is expected to resume, weather permitting.
Efforts to contact David Risdon, managing partner of High Rock Properties, were unsuccessful.