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A proposal to locate a rock quarry between Fincastle and Eagle Rock that was tabled three years ago will come before the Botetourt County Planning Commission on Tuesday.

A large number of county residents opposed to the quarry are expected to attend the planning commission's public hearing at 6 p.m. in the auditorium of Central Academy Middle School in Fincastle.

Timber Ridge Properties wants to operate the limestone quarry and mineral processing operation on about 305 acres of agricultural land adjacent to northbound U.S. 220 just more than a mile north of where it intersects Timber Ridge Road (Virginia 635).

When the quarry was first proposed in 2004, 800 people signed a petition against it, and about 85 people turned out for a public hearing at a meeting of the county's board of supervisors to speak against it.

At the time, Timber Ridge withdrew its rezoning request to conduct additional geological and environmental studies.

The concerns of residents opposed to the quarry haven't changed. They fear an increase in traffic, noise and dust pollution, and damage to nearby Catawba Creek and the James River.

Timber Ridge is requesting a rezoning of the land from agricultural and forest conservation use to industrial use in order to operate the quarry over the next 30 years.

But a recent report by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation's natural heritage division has determined the quarry's proximity to Catawba Creek could affect several species considered to be endangered, threatened, rare or unique, including the James spinymussel.

This species is classified as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

According to the Botetourt County Planning Department, the state report presents concerns that require further investigation.

The department's report on the proposed quarry states "there is a high probability of potential impacts to both terrestrial and aquatic species" within the area of the proposed quarry. "Without the proper required environmental surveys and studies, this aspect remains an unknown."

The planning report also notes that the quarry's industrial use is not in keeping with the county's master plan as a specified use for land in that area of the county.

The planning commission's recommendation or opposition to the quarry will be forwarded to the county's board of supervisors, which has the final say and could vote on the proposal at its Nov. 27 meeting.