Planning Board gives first nod to rezoning request
By Andrew Bell
Published in News on October 11, 2006 1:46 PM
The Wayne County Planning Board looked to the continued commercial development of outlying areas of Goldsboro, giving initial approval to the rezoning of a large tract of land northeast of the city Tuesday night.
About 50 residents of Raintree subdivision petitioned the board for the rezoning of a tract of land on the east side of U.S. 13, generally north of Hood Swamp Road, which will now be considered by the county Board of Commissioners. A public hearing would be required before any rezoning could take place.
The tract also includes some land on the east side of Mark Edwards Road.
The area, located just outside the city's extra-territorial jurisdiction, will eventually become the site of a new four-lane U.S. 70 bypass, which will intersect with U.S. 13 and create an opportunity for business development, planners said.
About 70 of the area's residents attended a public meeting on the issue last month. Most favored the proposed rezoning, which would create zones for both commercial and industrial use.
The plans for the new U.S. 70 call for it to be built just south of Raintree subdivision. Planners said the land at the intersection of the new U.S. 70 and U.S. 13 should be zoned to accommodate commercial uses such as restaurants, motels and grocery stores.
"We want it to develop into a business area," county Planning Director Connie Price told the planning board.
Since a proposed U.S. 70 bypass could bring visitors from across the nation, planning board member Tom Buffkin said residents and county officials would not want any undesirable businesses or aesthetics around the proposed interchange. A possible solution would be to create an overlay district which promotes landscaping and community shopping, Price said.
Outside of the commercial zoning, much of the rezoning is based on the development which has already occurred or is planned in the area. The rezoned area would include zoning for heavy industry, single-family homes, mobile homes, multi-family homes and agriculture use, Price said.
The planning board unanimously approved presenting the proposed rezoning to the commissioners.
In other business, the planning board approved two plats for development. First, a lot at the Walnut Hill subdivision, which is located at the end of Leafwood Drive in the New Hope Township, was approved for the Walnut Hill Association to begin development. Three lots in Lakenheath Estates, located off of Stoney Creek Church Road, were also approved.