HANSON, KY (WFIE) -
Officials voted this week on a proposal to allow coal mining within the city limits of Hanson, Kentucky. They voted to allow mining and make changes to their current zoning ordinance.
Talks of allowing mining in Hanson have been going on for about a year now, and the city thinks they came up with a proposal that will benefit everyone.
Mining will soon be allowed only in rural parts of Hanson.
"They've got hills and valleys and all that. There can't be a subdivision or something built there. So we're kind of looking forward to helping the guys out," said Hanson Mayor Charles Young.
Over the last year, some property owners have expressed interest in having their land mined because of how much it's said to be worth.
"They bought this ground, they bought the coal rights, it's their coal. If I was sitting there with $2 million coal under my property, I'd want it mined," said Commissioner Harold Gregory.
Commissioner Gregory who brought up the motion to vote says this process has dragged along. He says time was a factor because the money generated from mining those properties will help not only the landowners, but it'll be a tax base for the city.
"If we don't move forward, the town don't grow," Gregory said.
"We've waited now for a year to hear something, so we want to make a move on this thing and get it over with," Mayor Young said.
A main concern from some residents was whether this would affect downtown or more residential areas.
"This is rural property and really the property, it's not going to hurt the surface anyway and it's 700 to 800 feet deep. There's no blasting anymore," Mayor Young said.
Alliance Coal and city officials have assured residents that mining will only take place on select parts on the outskirts of town.
A final zoning ordinance will be put together by the Joint Planning Commission, so there's a few more steps that need to take place before actual mining takes place within the city limits.
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