Council adopts design change
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on June 9, 2016 1:46 PM
Downtown businesses that serve alcohol in outdoor seating areas will now have to add enclosures, based on changes to the city of Goldsboro's downtown design guidelines.
The Goldsboro City Council approved the changes Monday, following a lengthy review process that included council concern about enclosure requirements that are not common in other cities.
Mayor Chuck Allen, in November, said cities such as Raleigh and Carrboro have plenty of outdoor dining areas that are not within enclosed areas. The council decided in November to hold off on adopting the downtown design changes until the issue was explored further.
Julie Metz, director of the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp., said the city's assistant planning director, Jennifer Collins, checked into state law and confirmed that enclosures are required when businesses serve alcohol in outside dining areas.
The council Monday declined to ask any questions about the downtown design changes that also involve sidewalk dining, outdoor displays, signs, awnings, canopies, balconies, decks and plants attached or hanging from buildings.
The design guidelines were updated by urban designer Allison Platt, with Allison Platt and Associates, under a $4,000 contract with the city.
Platt coordinated the effort with input from members of a design guidelines steering committee. The committee included residents, merchants, city staff and members of the Goldsboro Historic District Commission, the Design Review Committee and Downtown Merchants Association.
The guidelines require store owners to secure an annual permit for sidewalk dining and outdoor seating. The guidelines detail barrier and space requirements and the types of furniture allowed.
Enclosures must be a minimum of 36 inches in height and front-edge barriers are optional, unless alcohol is served. Generally, only one entry to an enclosure is recommended, especially if alcohol is served.
The council approved the design rules during its regular council meeting Monday.
During an earlier work session, the council voted to approve a $44,500 purchase for property at 101 and 103 W. Chestnut St., next to the Paramount Theatre, and supported the start of a new Adopt-A-Street program.
The Chestnut property, the former location of an Amoco gas station, was given to the city by the Paramount Theatre Foundation in 2011, said Kaye Scott, Goldsboro finance director. The property will be purchased by the Atlas Development Co., which plans to add a restaurant, Metz told the council. The property has a tax value of $42,970.
The Adopt-A-Street program, designed to reduce litter in the city, will cost the city nearly $1,381 to launch, said James Rowe, Goldsboro planning director. The planning department plans to purchase safety vests, gloves and trash bags. Additional costs include the purchase of Adopt-A-Street signs, which will list the names of groups involved in the program. A list of streets will be developed prior to the start of the program, Rowe said.
The council approved site plans for the future Maxwell Regional Agricultural and Convention Center, on Wayne Memorial Drive, and a Wendy's restaurant, at U.S. 70 and N.C. 581, during its regular meeting.
The council also approved the purchase of a $26,000 used mobile stage, which will be used for city events, including the Center Street Jam concert series.