Flowery Branch City Council cleared the way Monday night for Lafarge Southeast Aggregates to add 6.45 acres to its operation, so the quarry can shore up its southwestern buffer and finish mining a corner of the existing property.

The council voted unanimously to approve rezoning and annexation of the property at 4263 Friendship Road in South Hall.

Council members offered only brief comment about the proposal, which was aired Thursday night during a public hearing that attracted several speakers.

"I have no problems with the rock quarry," said Philip Barber at the hearing. "They've been very good neighbors to us, but I am concerned about the noise issue."

City Planner James Riker said the company had asked if it could submit a noise study every three years or as otherwise required by the city, instead of annually. The request is based on activity slowing at the quarry, he said.

The council also voted to rezone the entire 373-acre quarry to heavy manufacturing and industrial from light manufacturing and industrial, a housekeeping move needed for the property to fall in line with a city zoning change last year establishing the two categories.

A single-family home now occupies the property at 4263 Friendship Road, and the property was zoned in the county as agricultural-residential.

"Following removal of the home, the property will be incorporated into the existing quarry operation," according to the legal notice on Lafarge's request.

In other business, the council approved an agreement with Norfolk Southern Railroad that would allow the city to run a sewer line down Bell Drive to a pump station, as part of a sewer line extension project.

The railroad property is near McEver and Gaines Ferry roads.

As part of the agreement, the city would pay the railroad $17,900.