Archdiocese sues Gwinnett over waste facility

The Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta said Tuesday that it is suing Gwinnett County over its decision to allow a waste transfer station to be built next to one of its churches in Norcross.

The lawsuit accuses Gwinnett County of abusing its authority in approving rezoning for the site on Shackleford Road adjacent to Holy Vietnamese Martyrs Mission.

The lawsuit, which also names the land’s owners, Lancaster Enterprises, also argues the transfer station would amount to a nuisance prohibited under Georgia law.

“We ask that the Commission prayerfully reconsider the impact on the community and take action to reverse their decision to place a solid waste station adjacent to a church,” Archbishop Wilton Gregory said in a statement.

County attorney Karen Thomas said the county has not yet been served with the lawsuit and declined comment.

In addition to the church community, business leaders in the area opposed the transfer station, saying it would endanger efforts to redevelop the area.