City planners discuss downtown ordinance
By Anessa Myers
Published in News on May 29, 2008 2:08 PM
The Goldsboro Planning Commission approved eight items Tuesday night and denied four, including one that would change the Demolition by Neglect Ordinance.
The current ordinance doesn't allow windows to be boarded up, but the proposed ordinance, which would be called the "Architectural and Building Preservation Ordinance," would allow second-story windows to be boarded up indefinitely if they are painted a similar color to the remaining exterior façade and use an acceptable material.
Members of the commission voiced their opinions against the change.
"Most of the people I spoke with downtown want to leave it like it is," Commission Chairman Chris Boyette said.
Commission member Bill Winslow moved for denial of the change in the ordinance, and the vote for disapproval was unanimous.
At the public hearing held at the City Council's May 19 meeting, two people spoke also spoke against the ordinance.
The commission also discussed a conditional use permit requested by Jack Thomas, the owner of Brews and Cues located on U.S. 117 South. The permit would have allowed excess parking on an unpaved lot with a septic tank underneath.
The commission denied the request based on concerns with safety and parking issues.
"If they get a full house, the overflow is going to go on the highway," commission member Hal Keck said.
At the public hearing held at the last council meeting, two people spoke in support of the permit, but the Goldsboro Police Department expressed concerns over the same two issues that the commission had -- safety and parking.
Commission members also denied a site plan showing an egress lane for a new restaurant located on the corner of Berkeley Boulevard and Ash Street. The restaurant owners are trying to make the establishment easier to get in and out of. The egress lane would allow patrons to exit from the restaurant onto Ash Street.
But members didn't believe that the option was the safest.
"It's a dangerous intersection," said commission member Carroll Overton about the yielding of traffic from Berkeley Boulevard onto Ash Street.
"It is mighty close to that intersection," Boyette said.
"It's an accident waiting to happen," member Mark Corbett said.
Commission members said that they would like to help this location boast a successful business but asked the restaurant owners to find other options that aid in better and safer access.
In other business, the planning commission approved modifications to a office and institutional zoning area for a subdivision to be built on the west side of Wayne Memorial Drive between New Hope Road and Tommy's Road; approved a rezoning request to allow for four residential units on the south side of East Ash Street between Carriage Road and Meadow Road; approved a conditional use permit to allow a child care facility for the Family Y; approved a conditional use permit to allow for an additional residence for elderly parents on the north side of Old Mill Place; approved site plans for Courtyard Apartments, S.T. Wooten and New Century Bank; approved a billboard on the north side of U.S. 70 East; and denied a preliminary subdivision plan for Manning Lots.