Company tower query rejected by commission
By Catharin Shepard
Published in News on April 28, 2009 1:46 PM
The Goldsboro Planning Commission voted Monday to deny a request by U.S. Cellular to install a 199-foot cell phone tower on a land parcel on Tommy's Road between Deans Lane and Highway 117 South.
However, the commission waived the waiting period, and the company might refile an altered request as early as today. The recommendation of denial is still waiting for Goldsboro City Council approval, which is expected to come at this Monday's meeting.
Residents of the area spoke out against the cell phone tower at the city council meeting on April 20, calling the proposed tower a potential eyesore. Property owner Vance Edwards appeared before the Planning Commission to voice his opinion.
"I can't see why it can't go further back," Edwards said.
U.S. Cellular representative Gary Miller spoke in favor of the tower, citing that the setback for the tower had to be 150 percent of the tower's height.
But protecting the homeowners' interests was key to the decision, said Chris Boyette, planning commission director.
"I think the homeowners have a valid concern," Boyette said. "I feel like we owe the residents something in terms of trying to look out for them."
But their decision is not final, he added.
The planning commission voted to recommend approving a rezoning request from Cid Yow for the northwest corner of South Berkeley Boulevard and East Elm Street that would change the property from General Business Conditional District to General Business Conditional District for a Place of Entertainment and Truck Rental.
Yow plans to operate a bar and a Budget truck rental business on the property, he said during the April 20 city council meeting.
"I want to make certain the business would be able to provide enough parking," Boyette said.
Boyette owns property next to the land parcel for the proposed rezoning, he said.
Yow stated during the April 20 meeting that he did not plan to operate an adult entertainment business on the property.
The commission voted to recommend denying a proposed street closing for Dexter Street. Three residents of the area spoke in favor of the closing and one spoke against the closing at the city council meeting.
"I see no reason to close it if the owner is willing to clean it up and let the neighbors fence it," Boyette said.
The commission voted to recommend approving site and landscape plans for the community garden and farmer's market proposed by Joann Lesak, an addition to Greenwood Middle School and a sign modification for the First African Baptist Church.
The commission also voted to recommend approving a proposed rezoning of the west side of South John Street between House Street and Wayne Avenue that would change from Office and Institutional to Neighborhood Business to allow the LBJ Community Development Center to operate a restaurant ancillary to the church.
The Planning Commission will meet again on May 18 at 7 p.m. in the City Hall addition on Center Street.