GREENVILLE, N.C. (Nov. 22, 2024) – Greenville residents are urging the court to rethink allowing a gas station to operate just 1,000 feet from a middle school, citing health concerns and expert testimony that was unfairly ignored.
Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) submitted an appeal to Pitt County Superior Court on Nov. 20, 2024, on behalf of several residents of the Brookhaven Community Association, claiming the City of Greenville’s Board of Adjustment unjustly dismissed the complaints and testimony of residents who spoke against allowing a special use permit for a gas station at 3201 N. Memorial Drive, Greenville, N.C. – only 1,000 feet away from Wellcome Middle School.
Click here to read the petition.
“Constructing such a project across the street from Wellcome Middle School and in the backyards of a senior citizen neighborhood demonstrates a lack of concern for the safety and welfare of the students and senior citizens who call the area home,” said Dr. Garrie Moore, President of the Brookhaven Community Association and one of the petitioners. “Adding traffic to an already congested area, the city will endanger residents’ safety – and polluting the neighborhoods of senior citizens, the city will endanger their health.”
“The city not only ignored the testimony of residents and experts, but kept its procedures and practices out of sight from the public in clear violation of state law,” said James Huey, Counsel for Environmental Justice at SCSJ. “By granting the special use permit, the city ignored all concerns about the health of a historically Black community and the risks to the children of Wellcome Middle School.”
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Southern Coalition for Social Justice, founded in 2007, partners with communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities in the South to defend and advance their political, social, and economic rights through the combination of legal advocacy, research, organizing, and communications. Learn more at southerncoalition.org and follow our work on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Felecia Phillips Ollie DD (h.c.) is the inspiring leader and founder of The Equality Network LLC (TEN). With a background in coaching, travel, and a career in news, Felecia brings a unique perspective to promoting diversity and inclusion. Holding a Bachelor’s Degree in English/Communications, she is passionate about creating a more inclusive future. From graduating from Mississippi Valley State University to leading initiatives like the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program, Felecia is dedicated to making a positive impact. Join her journey on our blog as she shares insights and leads the charge for equity through The Equality Network.
