Zoning public hearings draw critics
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on April 21, 2015 1:46 PM
Public hearings on a proposed used car dealership and an Internet sweepstakes parlor drew criticism from neighbors at the Goldsboro City Council's meeting Monday night.
Several neighbors stepped forward to express their concerns over a planned used car dealership on West Tommy's Road, which would be operated by Stevenson Automotive Group.
The proposed zoning change would change the current residential zoning classification to an office and institutional and highway business conditional district zoning classification.
John Walstrom spoke on behalf of Vance Edwards, who owns adjacent property.
"He opposes the change of zoning and would like to see it remain residential," Walstrom said. "If that's not consistent with what the council would like to do, he suggest that the 300-foot buffer zone remain residential."
Several neighbors echoed Walstrom's comments.
"I agree with Edwards, that we would like to see it remain residential, and personally I would like to see some plans for the development before we talk about rezoning it, specifically if it's an auto dealership, where the light placement would be relative to the residential homes around it," said Mark Metzler, who lives nearby. "That's a big concern for the neighbors, is what are we going to see everyday when we look out the windows of our homes."
Paul Wellman, who lives beside Edwards, also expressed his concern over the proposed dealership.
"There are a lot of concerns with businesses going into this location, primarily a car dealership that's going to have the high intensity lighting as well as the intercom system and how it affects our daily life at our homes, you know, that will carry quite a bit over an empty field," Wellman said. "I know there's buffers and things like that, but it'll still have an effect."
Wellman said he was also concerned about the traffic that would flow into the area if a dealership or other business is placed in the vacant lot on West Tommy's Road, and was also concerned with depreciating land value.
Stevenson representatives gave their side.
"We'd like to address some of the questions, some of the concerns the previous public comments made," said Howard Reznick with Coastal Site Design, the engineering company representing Stevenson Automotive Group. "We have put considerable thought into this rezoning, particularly concerning the residential buffer. We were considering starting the buffer with something less dense and moving to something a little more dense, and right now the area just south east of the property is residential. Additionally, we're proposing a buffer along the frontage where we'd like some heavy vegetation to help shield that noise and any sort of lights that you may see."
Reznick said he was aware the lighting was a concern, and in his experience with prior projects modern commercial lighting used on car dealerships and other large businesses tend to be shielded, focusing the light in one direction to prevent disturbing surrounding areas.
He also said the contractors and business were willing to do "whatever necessary" in order to combat any traffic troubles there may be if the dealership is built.
The company is requesting a waiver of the site-plan requirement in the rezoning proposal process due to the cost, which could run upwards of $100,000 if site plans had to be submitted prior to rezoning, Reznick said.
Chris Cox, who represents the owner of the property, said the landowner wants to "strike a happy balance" between the two parties when the ultimate decision is made about what goes on the property.
The other hearing that drew criticism focused on the establishment of an Internet sweepstakes cafe on the north side of Spence Avenue between East Ash Street and Cashwell Drive. The request was submitted by Harry Lin.
Walstrom again stepped forward to comment, representing Cobblestone LLC, who owns the Cobblestone Plaza across from the proposed location for the cafe.
There is a check cashing business directly beside the proposed location, which drew criticism from Walstrom.
"This month Attorney General Roy Cooper said, 'We've seen time and again that video gambling leads to corruption and crime, and that's why I've long stood with law enforcement against it,'" Walstrom said. "I would respectfully suggest to the council that you have your attorney look into this, and I'm not sure you have to allow them anywhere."
Then, Walstrom took it one step further.
"Well good news, another unit in there is a check cashing facility," Walstrom said. "I can't think of a more horrible thing to do, than to combine video gambling with a check cashing facility."
But Theodore Brosseau, who is Lin's manager, did not let Walstrom's comments go unanswered.
"We have about four or five employees that we've had on for about three years, and during that time we've maintained order and haven't had any issues," Brosseau said. "As far as keeping up with the law, I do keep up with the law, and my thing is that our employees live off of what we pay them, and for these people to come and say we're doing something wrong just by being in business, we're not forcing anybody to come out, we're not coercing anybody. We're just trying to maintain an honest business place."
The city Planning Commission will return to the council meeting on May 4 with recommendations on what to do with the proposals.