Wayne Planning Board clears way for city to extend jurisdiction
By Barbara Arntsen
Published in News on August 12, 2005 1:47 PM
The Wayne County Planning Board cleared the way Tuesday for Goldsboro to extend its extra-territorial-jurisdiction on Patetown Road.
Connie Price, the county's planning director, told the board that about one-fourth of a 219-acre tract under development in the Stoney Creek area was in the county's jurisdiction. The rest of the proposed subdivision falls in the city's jurisdiction. Developers had asked the county to release its control over 50 acres to the city, so they only have to follow one set of development guidelines.
Price said that cities the size of Goldsboro can extend their jurisdiction by one mile without permission from the county.
"They can go up to three miles with the extra-territorial jurisdiction, but over one mile they have to get permission from the county," he explained. "The majority of this subdivision falls in the city's ETJ."
County Commissioner Jack Best is one of the developers of the subdivision, which will be located across the highway from the Whispering Woods subdivision on Tommy's Road.
Price said that the developers had talked with city planners about the land.
"It has to be voted on by the City Council, but the staff indicated that the city would probably take all of this if it's released by the county," he said.
Chairman Wayne Aycock said it would make more sense for the developers to have one set of rules to follow.
Board member Ken Blackwell asked if there would be any consequences to the county for releasing the land, and Price said no.
"This has been done in the past," Price said. "Sometimes it works the other way, where city land goes into the county."
The matter will still have to be voted on by the county commissioners at their meeting next Tuesday.