City Council approves permit to add tanks
By Anessa Myers
Published in News on May 6, 2008 1:46 PM
The Goldsboro City Council approved several items at its meeting Monday, but most of the discussion turned toward a conditional use permit requested by Myco Supply Co., during the group's work session.
Two of the council members expressed their concerns about approving the permit that would allow the expansion of a facility for the storage of a 1,500-gallon argon tank and a 6-ton tank of liquid carbon dioxide on the north side of West Ash Street between Alabama Avenue and the Southern Railroad.
"I want to voice my opposition, given its close proximity to Westhaven community, with all those women and children," Councilman Michael Headen said. "If something happens, what are we going to do? Say, 'Whoops. My bad. I'm sorry.'
Councilman Chuck Allen said the permit wouldn't allow anything different than what the company already has, and Headen asked if Allen would allow the permit in his area of town.
"If I was my area, I would vote for it," Allen said. "I'm definitely going to vote for it because I don't think it's an issue. This place has been there since the '50s."
"I'm just saying, 'Should we not take into account the human factor?' Headen asked.
Allen said if he thought the permit would allow something that would be a problem, he wouldn't vote for the item, no matter what area it was in.
Councilman Charles Williams said he, too, has doubts about allowing the company to store more chemicals near a housing development and other residential meeting places.
"There is not only the Westhaven community but also St. Marks Church," he said. "That would be a travesty if something happened."
The permit was approved with a 5 to 2 vote.
The council also approved a conditional use permit requested by Jeff Darwin to allow the operation of a tavern, deli and place of entertainment at the former Corner Coffee Shop located on the northeast corner of East Walnut and North John streets.
Williams voiced his opposition to the bar because of its proximity to several churches.
"I really think it'd be imposing the opposite of what the churches are trying to do," he said.
The council held a public hearing regarding housing and non-housing needs for the city before submitting the 2008-09 Annual Action Plan. The plan is a tool used to help determine the use of Community Development Block Grant funds and home investment partnership programs received from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. No one spoke at the hearing.
Council members voted to condemn two dilapidated structures located at 500 N. John St. and 203 S. Slocumb St. as well as approving site and landscape plans for a new Bojangles' restaurant to be located on the north side of West Grantham between Elizabeth and Paul streets and for Carnell Mickens to allow a church at the former Holloway's Barbeque site.
In other business, the council approved a rezoning request by The Potter's House to change property on the east side of Bryant Street from residential to office and institutional, looking into closing Tart Street from Branch Street to its terminus, an ordinance specifying the grass clippings pickup to include clippings generated by landscaping, tree or yard maintenance contractors, utility assessment costs and a police budget amendment.