Commissioners to discuss Planning Board powers Tuesday
By Steve Herring
Published in News on March 31, 2013 1:50 AM
Wayne County commissioners will discuss Tuesday morning proposed changes to the county subdivision ordinance that would return authority for certain plat review and approval to the Wayne County Planning Board and/or the county planning director.
That authority was stripped away by the previous commission about three years ago when board members decided they needed to be more involved in the process.
The board, now controlled by Republicans, has said that restoring that authority makes sense because of the time it would save, as well as being more convenient for customers.
At the instruction of commissioners, the Planning Board last month looked at several options. A public hearing has to be held and a vote taken by commissioners before any change can be made to the ordinance.
Tuesday's meeting starts with an agenda briefing at 8 a.m. followed by the meeting at 9 a.m. in the commissioners' meeting room on the fourth floor of the county courthouse annex.
Among the suggested changes, the planning director would be authorized to grant final approval to minor subdivision that do not exceed two lots on a secondary road.
There are several other planning issues on the agenda.
A public hearing will be held at 9:15 a.m. on a proposed amendment to the county's flood prevention ordinance. The changes allow for the use of digital data. It also updates the ordinance to reflect the Cooperating Technical State agreement between state and FEMA in its Flood Insurance Study for Wayne County, dated April 6, 2013 and its accompanying Flood Insurance Rate Map.
The board also will consider four subdivision plats.
The list includes the Tuscany preliminary and final plats.
Owned and developed J&N Developers, LLC the subdivision consists of 31 lots on the east side of Antioch Road in Saulston Township approximately 2,800 feet north of Wayne Memorial Drive. The plat is a redesign of a subdivision known as Carriage Park that was approved in 2006 and consisted of 27 lots. All of the streets have been installed, but none of the lots were ever sold. The redesign will allow the developer to add four lots.
The other two plats are:
* James O. Boykin and Elizabeth Pauline Boykin final. Owned and developed by James and Elizabeth Boykin, the subdivision consists of three lots on the south side of Dollard Town Road in New Hope Township approximately 600 feet east of N.C. 111.
* Planters Ridge final. Owned and developed by Edmonson Construction Co., LLC, the subdivision consists of two lots at the end of Planters Ridge Drive approximately 1,000 feet from Wayne Memorial Drive in Saulston Township.
In other business, commissioner will consider scheduling several meetings -- work sessions in April and May, a Facilities Committee session and a meeting with consultants from Davenport and Co.
Officials with the Wayne County Senior Games are scheduled to ask commissioners to consider participating in the games to pay tribute to the late J.D. Evans. A longtime commissioner, Evans died in December. He was a supporter of and participant in the games.
The board also will be asked to adopt a resolution of support for the games, most of which will be held on May 3.
Sarah Merritt, executive director of the Arts Council of Wayne County, will give an overview of how the council is doing at its new location on North John Street. She will also share information about an economic impact study that was completed last year.
The board will be asked to proclaim April as Child Abuse Month, and Commissioner George Wayne Aycock Jr. has requested commissioners proclaim Sunday, April 28 as Survivor Sunday in Wayne County.
Jeff Sparrow, the county's solid waste code enforcement/recycling coordinator, will provide an update on the Spring Litter Sweep to be held on April 13. Commissioners also will be asked to proclaim April 13 as Litter Sweep Day in Wayne County.
The board will consider approval of a petition to add Cross Place and Crosswinds Circle in Crosswinds subdivision to the state road maintenance system.
There will be a County Government Month presentation, and commissioners will be asked to adopt a proclamation in support of that designation.
County Manager Lee Smith has recommended commissioners declare three pieces of property in the town of Mount Olive as surplus and transfer ownership to the town.
The properties are located on Glenn Street, Budd Street Franklin Street.
Public comments will start at 10 a.m.