Rezoning across from Olive Garden back before City Council
By Ty Johnson
Published in News on June 17, 2012 1:50 AM
A once-denied rezoning request for a neighborhood business on North Berkeley Boulevard will get a second shot beginning at the Goldsboro City Council meeting Monday, where the public is invited to speak out once more concerning the request.
The City Council denied the request on April 16, citing entrance and exit problems with the property. This more recent request encompasses an additional lot that was purchased and shows an additional access to and from Summit Drive.
Concerns about ingress and egress to the site led to the Council's original denial of the request, but the N.C. Department of Transportation has granted the applicant approval for a right-in, right-out curb cut from Berkeley Boulevard along with the new access.
Residents of the neighborhood behind the subject plot spoke out against the rezoning -- from office and institutional to neighborhood business conditional district -- mostly citing worries over what increased traffic on Ridgecrest Drive would mean to the area.
The plan shows a 9,000- to 10,000-square-foot retail building surrounded by 48 parking spaces, but the site plan, along with the Berkeley Boulevard curb cut, would be further considered once it was formally submitted if the zoning request were approved.
A public hearing will also be held on the conditional use permit submitted by Steven Matthews for the east side of North Berkeley Boulevard between Graves Drive and East Ash Street. The site is being proposed to be used as a used car lot, a use for which it was formerly approved for, although that facility has been closed for some time. The car wash facility that now operates on the site would continue to provide services if the permit is awarded.
The Planning Commission will provide recommendations on those two requests at the Council's July 9 meeting, following the Commission's June 25 meeting.
A third public hearing will be held on the annexation of Atkinson Missionary Baptist Church on the east side of South Oak Forest Road between Deluca Road and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. The council is expected to vote on that measure immediately following the hearing.
The consent agenda contains the monthly departmental reports, along with a budget amendment approving the acceptance of reimbursement from FEMA due to expenses incurred by the city during Hurricane Irene cleanup. The funds total $534,600.08.
The consent agenda includes the adoption of the Wayne County Solid Waste Management Plan and an amendment to the Capital Projects Fund Ordinances concerning sanitary sewer and street improvements.
A budget ordinance accepting $1,934.92 federal drug forfeiture money rounds out the consent agenda.
Presentations at the 7 p.m. meeting in Historic City Hall will include Mark Sutherland on Envision East 2050 and Cheryl Alston who will give an update on community gardening.
The Council work session will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will feature discussions on the city's Golden LEAF projects as well as roof repairs to the city's building at 2406 E. Ash St. The session will be held in the City Hall Annex.