City Council will consider annexation zoning shifts
By Anessa Myers
Published in News on November 2, 2008 2:00 AM
Goldsboro City council members are expected to approve initiation of city zoning requirements Monday night for property along Buck Swamp and Salem Church roads that was officially annexed into city limits Sept. 30.
All of the property in the area is zoned residential currently, but approval of the proposed rezonings would add in two new business zones.
The city Planning Department proposed to change zonings to include two residential zones, an office and institutional zone and a neighborhood business zone since there are three current commercial properties.
The newly annexed area was part of a legal battle that took place over a four-year period and ending after the state Supreme Court refused to hear residents' appeal.
Five more dilapidated dwellings also will be looked at for condemnation and demolition. Houses at 104 N. Slocumb St., 408 A St., 1107 N. John St., 604 E. Spruce St. and 412 Woodrow St. might soon join the 320 dwellings currently on the condemnation list.
Council members are also likely to approve three agreements.
The first would be one with Marlowe and Company, a grant finding company that has already provided federal funding for city projects and hopes to continue to do so in the future, for $43,200.
The second is a contract with The Sports Facilities Advisory, a consulting firm that works with recreation centers, in the amount of $25,000 to estimate operating costs of the soon-to-be-built Community Recreation Center.
An agreement between the city and Eastern Wayne Sanitary District also will be acted upon. The agreement states that the city would not sell capacity in the water plant to the district or be required to sell water on peak pumping days, opening up more water for city use.
The council will also likely approve the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp.'s business incentive grant program.
The DGDC Economic Restructuring Committee has been working on the incentive program for months, which would give new businesses or businesses that were to relocate to the area up to $400 a month for one year in grant money toward advertising, utilities, rent and insurance. To be eligible for the grant, businesses must be for-profit, must locate within the Municipal Service District area and must complete a business plan similar or identical to that provided by the Small Business Center at Wayne Community College prior to submitting the application.
Businesses must also provide a personal financial statement or proof of financing, must adhere to all city codes, historic district guidelines, downtown design standards and sign regulations and must have a business inspection, fire inspection, building permit, sign permit and a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic District Commission.
Grant awards during the current fiscal year will focus on providing the downtown area with the types of businesses that city and county residents deemed necessary in the DGDC's survey, such as a restaurant with outdoor seating, grocery store, antique shop and specialty store. The funds will serve as a reimbursement for eligible expenses, and each month, grant awardees will be required to submit a list of money spent for the business in that period of time.
Grants will be awarded on a funds-available basis. Funds for the grant will come from the city's general fund and municipal service district tax funds. Grant applications will be reviewed on a quarterly basis, and the deadlines for each cycle are Dec. 1, March 1, June 1 and Sept. 1.
In other business, council members will discuss traffic control matters, one site and landscape plan for Southern District Convocation of the United Holy Church, a sign ordinance amendment for billboards and a rezoning of property located on the south side of West Grantham Street between the Little River and Nevel Street from residential to general industry.
The council might also discuss future annexation ventures, an alcohol policy for city facilities and changes in the animal control ordinance at its work session.