Commission to discuss subdivision rules Tuesday
By Steve Herring
Published in News on October 5, 2009 2:05 PM
Proposed changes to the county's subdivision ordinance will be back before commissioners when they meet Tuesday morning.
The proposal that would give final approval of all subdivision plats to commissioners was the subject of two public hearings last month -- one by the Planning Board and the other by commissioners.
The topic is on the board's agenda under "unfinished business." The meeting will get under way at 8 a.m., with an agenda briefing, followed by the regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the commissioners' boardroom on the fourth floor of the county courthouse annex.
Commissioners have not indicated whether they will act on the proposal.
The meeting will follow today's 2 p.m. meeting of a committee charged with reviewing the 1960s-era ordinance that created the Planning Board. Commis-sioners have provided no specifics as to what the review could entail.
However, when Commis-sioner Jack Best put forth the motion to create the committee he said it was "so we can understand who is in charge and who is not in charge and whose duties are what."
The committee is supposed to report to the board by Nov. 1 so that commissioners will have time for review prior to a scheduled Nov. 17 when a work session is to be held on any proposed changes to the ordinance.
Also on the board's plate is a look at the county's mobile home subdivision. A public hearing on that ordinance will be held later this month.
The look at planning issues got under way in June when commissioners told county Planning Director Connie Price and county attorney Borden Parker to look at ways to revise the subdivision ordinance to transfer all plat approval to commissioners.
Under the existing subdivision ordinance, most plats are approved by the Planning Board. Price may approve minor plats -- five lots on a secondary road or three on a private drive.
The proposal would vest all of that authority in commissioners. The Planning Board would review the plats and make recommendations to commissioners.
The Planning Board has offered several amendments.
One calls for the Planning Board to make recommendations and for commissioners to approve preliminary plats.
However, Price would not only continue to approve minor plats, he would approve final plats as well.
Price would have 30 days to act on a plat. Failure to do so would send the plat to the Planning Board.
The Planning Board also wants the ordinance to create a committee of three commissioners and three Planning Board members to review plats that are approved by one board, but disapproved by the other.
Finally, notes would be added to plats to indicate any proposed roads that might cross the property.
The Planning Board's amendments were presented at the commissioners' Sept. 16 public hearing. Commissioners have not publicly commented on the amendments.
In other business Tuesday, Vicki Falconer, the county's new animal control director, will be introduced to the board.
Mrs. Falconer has served as interim director since June when Justin Scally stepped down to take a job with the Humane Society of the United States.
Family and Consumer Education Cooperative Extension Agent Christine Smith and Health Education Specialist Karen Padgett will update the board on the county's recent wellness survey.
They also plan to talk to commissioners about serving healthy foods at county functions.
The Goldsboro Family YMCA, N.C. Cooperative Extension and the News-Argus are teaming up to encourage citizens be more active and to eat healthier.
To kick off the awareness campaign, they are issuing a 10,000-a-day step challenge to City Manager Joe Huffman, County Manager Lee Smith, Goldsboro City Council and the county commissioners.
Each participant will track his/her steps using pedometers.
The sponsors said the activity is designed to generate friendly competition among governing bodies and to empower employees and citizens to take personal responsibility for their health.
Commissioners also are expected to hear a request for a Crawford's Crossroads identification sign at the intersection of Pikeville-Princeton Road and Hinnant Road.