Zoning request in annexed area faces opposition
By Barbara Arntsen
Published in News on May 16, 2004 9:12 AM
A request to zone land near the newly annexed area of Goldsboro has at least one opponent.
The council will hold a public hearing Monday on the request from Lane Farms and Howells Properties to zone the east side of Salem Church Road between Stoney Hill Road and Fedelon Trail.
The area was annexed voluntarily in 2002. It was previously zoned by the county.
Parts of it are in the county's airport zoning, which allows one house an acre, and the other parts allow lots that are about half an acre. The request before the council would keep similar lot requirements and turn over control of enforcing the zoning to the city.
Bill Burnette, president of the organization fighting the annexation, wrote a letter to the city about traffic accidents on Salem Church Road. Burnette asked the council to establish a moratorium on further development until the road was improved.
He wrote that there have been three traffic fatalities on Salem Church Road since 1996, as well as numerous other non-fatal accidents.
He said that traffic going to Goldsboro from developments along Buck Swamp Road and the northern end of Salem Church Road feed into Salem Church Road, causing traffic backups.
Further development, he said, would only make the situation worse.
"Therefore, I respectively request you place a restrictive clause on this zoning proposal that stops residential development until roads are upgraded to support the residents."
The council is also scheduled to do the following at its meeting Monday, which begins at 7 p.m. in City Hall:
*Hold a public hearing on a request from Grady Construction Co. to rezone the east side of Patetown Road between Catherine Street and Tommy's Road from R-16 residential to Office and Institutional.
*Hold a public hearing on a request from Evanston Development to rezone the west side of Lockhaven Drive between Wayne Memorial Drive and Gloucester Road from General Business Special Use District to General Business.
*Hold a public hearing on a contiguous annexation request from Goldsboro Worship Center to annex 40 acres on the south side of New Hope Road between Hare Road and Reedy Branch.
*Decide whether to condemn the Old Gold Leaf Warehouse at 2601 N. William St.; a mobile home at 1904 N. William St.; a house at 418 S. Denmark St.; and a house at 506 Colonial Terrace.