Council to decide on rezoning
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on April 3, 2016 1:45 AM
A decision regarding the development of an 80-unit apartment complex behind Goshen Medical Center will be left up to the Goldsboro City Council at its meeting Monday night after a public hearing held on the matter drew sharp criticism from opponents of the measure.
City staff has returned a recommendation of denial for the proposed rezoning of the area that would allow for the development of the apartment complex, but the city planning commission recommend approval of the measure.
The planning commission felt the apartment complex would be in accordance with existing mixed-use development surrounding the area, but city staff felt the proposal was in discord with the city's comprehensive land use plan.
Three other matters that had public hearings held on them at the last council meeting will also have decisions handed down to them by the council.
George and Joann Humphreys requested a conditional use permit to continue selling goods without a principal building on a site at the corner of U.S. 70 West and Claridge Nursery Road. The pair has been selling goods at the site, but the operation had grown to the size as to require a permit to continue operations.
In line with the city planning commission's recommendation, the council is expected to deny the request for the conditional use permit.
A permit that will allow the operation of a cigar bar on the south side of West Chestnut Street between South Center Street and South James Street, behind Well Travelled Beer, is expected to be approved by the council.
Dustin Pike requested the conditional use permit from the council that will allow for the operation of a cigar bar with ABC permits. The cigar bar is expected to sell cigars, artisan pipes, pipe tobacco, and craft and domestic beer.
The last issue on which a public hearing was held that will be decided by the council is that of a solar farm operation south of Old Smithfield Road, between Gin Road and N.C. 581 South.
The solar farm will sit on a 30-acre site, which is currently vacant farmland, and the permit to allow its development is expected to be approved by the City Council.
All of the public hearing items, for which the public hearings have come and gone, appear on the council's consent agenda, and will be decided by the council approving the consent agenda as it reads, or amending the consent agenda to reflect the council's decisions on each matter.
Also on the council's consent agenda is an item that will transfer property from the city to the county government for the development of the Maxwell Regional Agricultural and Convention Center.
The city will transfer 12 acres of the 18-acre site to the county. The center will be built on Wayne Memorial Drive, near Wayne Community College.