The New Hanover Board of Supervisors unanimously voted down the final land development plan for the Gibraltar Rock Quarry at its meeting on Monday, February 22.

            Attorney Stephen Harris, representing the quarry, attempted to stall the proceedings by requesting a continuance at the top of the meeting, stating that he had never received a promised letter from township solicitor Andrew Bellwoar following the township planning commission meeting earlier this month. The letter was supposed to cover the planning commission's objections to the plan.

            "I'm entitled to that letter," Harris said.  He stated that without the letter, and Bellwoar's interpretation of what the planning commission determined, it was impossible for him to do what he needed to do.

            Bellwoar said that the letter was sent and that there was nothing in it about the planning commission's decision. He instructed the board that there was no reason to act on the continuance request.

            Township manager Jamie Gwynn then presented the multiple reasons why plan approval should be denied.  He focused particularly on a parcel of land in the proposed Gibraltar Rock tract that was not on the preliminary plan that was approved in 2015.

            Gwynn stated, "We do not know how many acres we are approving tonight," and that the board had to understand what acres abided by the preliminary plan.

            Additionally, one of the conditions of the 2015 approval was ...