Pikeville board OKs new sign ordinance
By Turner Walston
Published in News on February 7, 2006 1:47 PM
Pikeville Town Commissioners approved two ordinances Monday night.
The town's new sign ordinance is similar to the Wayne County law, which Mayor Herb Sieger said was used as a guideline in developing the Pikeville regulations.
The ordinance allows off-premises outdoor advertising signs on the U.S. 117 bypass and in commercial zones within Pikeville. Signs can be no larger than 400 square feet, and no more than 50 feet high from the ground to the top of the sign. The ordinance prohibits signs within 500 feet of churches, schools or public institutions, and within 300 feet of residences.
Board members also approved an ordinance defining a commercial 'community shopping' zone. The designation allows for banks, convenience stores, churches, drug stores and restaurants, but prohibits the sale or storage of used motor vehicles.
"It would not include any go-go dancing or anything like that," Sieger said.
In other business, board members voted to re-zone 54 acres owned by Barbara Lancaster along the new U.S. 117 bypass as community shopping. Mrs. Lancaster has requested that the property be annexed by the town. Commissioner Johnny Weaver questioned whether the town has to provide services to areas that are annexed voluntarily. Weaver said he is concerned about the town's sewer system taking on new customers before it is fully operational.
"We're pumping the capacity of the system right now," Weaver said. "Before we take on additional responsibility, I think we owe it to the citizens to do a cost analysis."
A public hearing on the proposed annexation will be held March 6.
Town Clerk Kathie Fields gave an update on the town's sewer project. Mrs. Fields said patches on roads in the Collingwood neighborhood had been repaired, and re-paving would begin shortly.
Mrs. Fields said a new lift station had been installed at Croom's Mobile Home Park. Sewer lines were tested for re-use, and chlorinated successfully, she said.
"Everything is working up to par now," Mrs. Fields said. "Everything looks to be working on schedule."
Pikeville resident Dennis Lewis presented the board with a budget for the ceremony to dedicate the town's veterans' memorial in Pikeville Park. Board members allocated $1,500 to pay for transportation for members of the United States Marine Band and signs and supplies for the ceremony. Lewis said construction would begin on the monument early next month.
At the dedication ceremony, Lewis said he plans to have on display more than 2,500 crosses to represent the Americans killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Larger crosses will represent military members killed in other conflicts.
Doug Harrison, who is coordinating three little league baseball teams that use Pikeville's field, asked for money for field improvements and team supplies. The board agreed to support the teams with money from the town's budget.
Danny VanDevender of Landscape Design of Goldsboro agreed to donate 13 trees to the Pikeville Park.
Doris Petrak asked board members to sign a petition calling for a new county animal shelter.