Group named to plan Community Building
By Matt Shaw
Published in News on June 22, 2005 1:45 PM
The Goldsboro City Council chose a group Monday to begin planning for a new Community Building on South Center Street.
The 12-member committee will try to develop a proposal that would be palatable to all the possible partners -- the city, the Family Y and the Wayne County Memorial Community Building trustees.
The recreational facility is expected to include a pool, gym and meeting rooms, which the city lost downtown after the May 2004 fire at the original Community Building. The new center could also have tennis courts.
Some of the trustees have been concerned about the location, a two block-area between Pine and Elm streets that borders some low-income areas.
But the Family Y's interest in managing the building seems to be winning over critics, Councilman Chuck Allen said. "I've gotten lots of calls of support."
The committee will include City Manager Joe Huffman; Councilmen Jackie Warrick, Charles Williams and Allen; Julie Thompson of the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp-oration; Recreation Director Neil Bartlett; Jim Myers and Mary McEachern of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Commission; Ed Borden and Carroll Overton of the Community Building trustees; and Family Y Executive Director John Richards and a member of the Y's board of directors, still to be named.
The City Council did not set a timetable for the committee, which is expected to convene within the next few weeks.
Also Monday, the City Council held three public hearings, none of which drew any citizens' comments. Afterward, all three issues were sent to the city's Planning Commission for its review and recommendations.
Wayne County has asked for a conditional-use permit for a 300-foot tower to be built at the corner of Humphrey and Eighth streets, near the old Wayne Community College campus. The tower would be part of a new radio communications system for the county's 911 center.
CCP of Goldsboro, LLC, wants the city to rezone 18 acres between Wendell Street and Lockhaven Drive, off Wayne Memorial Drive, from residential uses. The requested zoning would allow offices or multi-family housing. The developer has not filed specific plans.
Pediatric Play Therapy plans to use a house on the south side of Tommy's Road, between Hare Road and Green Circle, as an office. The city is reviewing its landscaping plans.
The City Council expects to vote on all three issues at its July 5 meeting.