ROWLAND — The Robeson County Board of Commissioners unanimously denied a request Monday to allow an explosives disposal training facility in a swampy area near Rowland.

STT Facilities LLC, went before commissioners seeking a special-use permit to open an explosive disposal training facility. Property owners Alottabang LLC had hoped to open the facility in Alfordsville Township on a 610-acre tract of land on the North Carolina-South Carolina border.

Although the land is entirely within Robeson County, it would have to be accessed from Dillon County, South Carolina.

Commissioner Pauline Campbell, in whose District 2 the land resides, made the motion to deny the request before the board voted to approve that motion, receiving a long applause from a crowded meeting room. In making the motion, Campbell stated the following reasons to deny the request:

— It could potentially endanger public health and safety.

— The request did not meet the requirements of the county ordinance.

— The facility could diminish nearby property values.

— It would not be in harmony with the surrounding area or conforming with the county’s overall development plan.

“The testimony that was given, it had not been proven that it would be good for the county,” Campbell told The Robesonian after the meeting. “We heard the attorney (Robert Price) say that he didn’t recommend it. Based on what the attorney said, for the people — and he gave very thorough evidence to the fact that it would not be good for the community — so that’s why the decision was made.”

The vote came after a public hearing regarding the matter was continued from May’s Board of Commissioners meeting and resumed on Monday.

Everyone speaking during the public comment period expressed opposition to the project. An informal poll of the packed crowd was taken by asking those in the crowd in favor of the facility to stand; no one stood. Then, when those against were asked to stand, the majority of the room rose.

Price, who was retained by neighboring landowners Mike Reaves and Loui Bodenheimer, gave thorough remarks in opposition during Monday’s meeting. A large portion of his remarks were dedicated to the environmental impact the facility would have; the property is approximately 80% wetlands, according to river keeper Jeff Curry, who also spoke during the public hearing.

Shoe Heel Creek runs through the property, and comes close to the area in which it is believed training exercises would take place. The law treats passable waterways similar to how it treats roadways; it is legal for anyone to travel them and no one can be considered to be trespassing, even on a waterway which dissects private property, as long as they remain in the waterway.

“The applicant has demonstrated he is ignorant of the rights of those who have a public way through his property,” Price said. “How successful is this LLC going to be in protecting the rights of those who travel on that public way known as Shoe Heel Creek.”

Randy McCrimmon, whose family owns adjoining land, stated that just this weekend, his son and a friend navigated Shoe Heel Creek in a two-man boat for “quite some ways” from a landing on their property.

“I’d hate for my children to be down there and all this going on and stuff like that,” McCrimmon said. “It’s peaceful back there and I’d like it to stay that way.”

Curry stated that any explosions at the site could also have an adverse affect on wildlife in the area, including a concussive effect on birds and other mammals, and possibly amphibians too. A couple of fish species that could potentially be affected live exclusively in the Little Pee Dee and Lumber river sheds, and nowhere else on earth, he said.

Because the property, while sitting in Robeson County, can only be accessed by entering from Dillon County, concern also exists about whether the property could be accessed by Robeson County Emergency Services in the event of an emergency, including a possible fire emergency caused by an accident with any explosives.

Carolyn McKellar Floyd, who owns adjoining property on the South Carolina side of the state line, said that she was first approached by the applicant nearly two years ago, and was told the property would be used as a retreat for disabled veterans; she said that would have been a “respectful venture” and she would have welcomed use of a road through her property to access the site. Once she learned explosives were involved, she said, she will not allow the road use, making the property essentially “landlocked.”

“It does not take an expert to know that exploding bombs would negatively effect the entire area, the wildlife, the water of Wilkerson and Shoe Heel creeks that feed into the Little Pee Dee River,” Floyd said. “The air pollution, the noise pollution. I have truly looked for positives in this. I can think of none. Who will benefit from this? Not the people, not the environment. The only benefactors will be the owners of the so appropriately named company Alottabang.”

Price also quoted a letter from a retired general, who stated the applicant is not prepared to engage in the activities proposed, and urging the board to deny the request.

Another commenter said that, while the applicants have stated plans to do contract work with the federal government, the Department of Defense, Department of Transportation, ATF, EPA and the FBI have not been contacted regarding this company, according to her personal research, and she claimed the organizations wonder if this is something “being slipped under the radar” that could become a national security risk. Furthermore, Price stated that Alottabang’s registration to contract with the federal government is not currently active.

Other concerns raised in the public hearing included the potential decrease of property values, the lack of thoroughness in the application, impact in the event of flooding, and the overall quality of life for those living nearby.

STT Facilities, LLC is listed as the applicant, while Alottabang, LLC is listed as the landowner. Alottabang is owned by David A. Ricks, of Melbourne, Florida, and Danny James Ricks, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, according to N.C. Secretary of State records cited in an NC Newsline report. Filings describe Alottabang as “a land holding company,” and documents state STT Facilities’ special use permit was to provide “training facilities for emergency services,” the report says.

Robeson County Attorney Rob Davis told The Robesonian in May that the company intends to establish a facility geared toward law enforcement and military that would train them to properly dispose of ordnance and explosives. The company would contract with military bases, Davis said.

County Planning Director Dixon Ivey stated at the beginning of the public hearing that the application had been amended since the hearing was continued in May, stating that there would be no detonations, no munitions, no explosives and no live fire at the site. Some in the room were skeptical of that, however.

“He said in his application, the main use of the property would be training bomb squads, how to deactivate them in real-life situations, so a training facility and also a veterans retreat area,” Ivey said.

“So my understanding, and let me get this straight and clear: no detonations, no explosives, no live fire, no nothing — basically grown men with plastic,” Commissioner John Cummings said. After Ivey said yes, Cummings replied: “My question is, if he’s storing (explosives), why are you bringing it, if you’re not going to detonate it?”

No one spoke, and it appeared no one was present, on behalf of the applicant.

The mayors of Dillon, South Carolina and Rowland were present in opposition, along with representatives of South of the Border. The Dillon County Council passed a resolution in May voicing opposition to the facility, while Rowland Town Commissioners spoke in opposition during their May meeting. Rowland Mayor Robert McDougald said that although the property is outside of the Rowland town limits, the town still has a vested interest in the matter because of its proximity.

“It’s two miles outside of Rowland,” McDougald told The Robesonian. “This is county property. We’re going to stay in our lane but we can voice our opinion of opposition to this.”

In other business during Monday’s meeting, the Board of Commissioners:

— Approval of the county’s budget for the fiscal year 2023-24.

— Resolutions revising the Robeson County Housing Authority’s Public Housing Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy; amending the flat rate rent and utility allowances for 2023-24; approving write-offs for prior tenants with delinquent accounts; approving the Authority’s 2023-24 budget; financing the Supporting Housing Development Program; and approving a capital funds program.

— Approved special-use permits for an event venue on Barker Ten Mile Road north of Lumberton, and a debris composting site on Vass Drive near Parkton; a vote on a special use permit for a mechanic shop on Chicken Road in Back Swamp Township was tabled so staff could gain more information regarding the request.