Board member recuses himself from decision
By Steve Herring
Published in News on July 15, 2010 1:46 PM
Wayne County Planning Board member Chris Cox Tuesday night recused himself from the discussion and vote on a subdivision final plat of which he was listed as one of three owners/developers.
Cox left the room when the subject of the four-lot Camp Jubilee Acres project came before the board at its monthly session. He did not return to the room until the board had voted to recommend commissioners approve the plat.
The plat was one of four recommended for approval during the session. The Planning Board reviews the plats and makes recommendation, but commissioners have final approval.
Board member and Commissioner Steve Keen said that he liked the way that the names of the owners/developers are now listed on the plats.
Keen said that more limited liability companies are developing properties and that he likes to see the names of individuals listed and not just the name of the company.
Aubrey Walker and Michael Hill were listed along with Cox as the owners/developers of the project on the southeast side of Camp Jubilee Road.
The other plats approved were:
* Windy Hill, section one final, 10 lots on the south side of Swinson Drive near the U.S. 117 Bypass at Dudley. Dixie Burroughs was listed as the owner/developer. Board members were concerned that the project did not provide for a cul-de-sac. The road, which was dead-ended when the bypass was built, has a turn-around area built by the state. Surveyor Mike Benton said the owners would not be willing to incur the cost for a new turnaround, but that they probably would agree to set aside right of way if the state would build the turnaround.
The board agreed to that stipulation. It also agreed to a variance in the width of the buffer zone between the subdivision and bypass. Regulations call for a 25-foot buffer, but the board agreed to 20 feet.
* Jose G. Baltazar, final, three lots on the north side of New Hope Road. Baltazar was listed as the owner/developer.
* L.G. King, final, one lot on the east side of Camp Jubilee Road. King was listed as the owner/developer.
In other business, the board approved a setback variance requested by Dallas Price of the Canterbury Village subdivision.
Price wants to construct a storage building on his property. However, he is limited because of the placement of the property septic tank drain field.