Board asks for changes in zoning
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on March 15, 2006 1:57 PM
MOUNT OLIVE -- Members of the Mount Olive Planning Board will ask the town's Board of Commissioners to revamp the town's zoning ordinance.
The ordinance is outdated, Town Attorney Carroll Turner said at a Planning Board meeting Tuesday night. Some permitted uses need to be removed from the ordinance or converted to special or conditional uses, he said.
Turner had been asked to look over the ordinance by Planning Board members who believed it needed updating.
Currently, the Town Board considers special use requests on a case-by-case basis. The town Board of Adjustment considers conditional use permit requests.
The Town Board would have final say in any changes to the ordinance.
Permitted uses that might be considered for change to special uses include general merchandise and convenience stores, laundromats, fish markets and private clubs like fraternal organizations or lodges.
Turner said some of the permitted uses that are more likely to cause a nuisance for surrounding businesses should be included in the more restrictive permitted use category. He said someone once wanted to put a fish market next to his law office.
"Can you imagine me sitting in my office with a client and that smell coming through?" he asked.
Turner suggested that the planning board have the town's zoning officer, Danny Keel, present descriptions of each zoning category.
"The town can have right much control with a conditional use," Turner said.
Keel said there are other aspects of the zoning ordinance that need to be considered for change.
"It needs to be brought up to par with 2006," he said.