Fate of store to be decided
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on January 2, 2017 10:07 AM
The fate of Brookside Mart, on South Slocumb Street, could be resolved during Tuesday's Goldsboro City Council meeting.
The council will meet at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 214 N. Center St.
Ismail Qandeel, owner of the small convenience store, pleaded with city officials during a recent public hearing, asking that he be allowed to move the business from its current 2000 S. Slocumb St. site to the former Bob's Supermarket, at 1717 S. Slocumb St.
Qandeel said he is the only small-scale grocer serving the low-income residential area. He also said he depends on the business to make a living.
During a Dec. 19 public hearing, one resident spoke in opposition to the permit, citing several concerns and questioning Brookside Mart's benefit to the community.
For years, the store has attracted police complaints of illegal drug and alcohol sales, nearby shootings and thefts. Goldsboro Police Chief Mike West said his department started the process of nuisance abatement enforcement, which could have led forced closure, but stopped after the building was condemned by the city, in May.
Even after condemnation, the market remains open. Allen Anderson Jr., Goldsboro chief building inspector, said the owner has patched the roof and city staff have been working to help him find an alternative location.
"We felt it was structurally unsound, and it was unsafe for the public to be in there," Anderson said. "We have worked with him over these past months to get him relocated. We felt the community needed the store."
The council Tuesday will consider Qandeel's request for a conditional-use permit that would allow the market to operate in the former 9,000-square-foot Bob's Supermarket store. He is asking that the city waive parking, paving, landscaping, buffering requirements.
Prior to seeking the permit, Qandeel started moving merchandise into the old grocery store and opened the doors for business. James Rowe, Goldsboro planning director, said city staff alerted Qandeel and told him he needed to have a city permit to operate.
The permit request was reviewed by the Goldsboro Planning Commission, after the council's public hearing, on Dec. 19.
The planning commission voted to not recommend approval of the conditional-use permit to city council. The decision was made because the request failed to meet city standards requiring landscaping, buffering and parking lot improvements.
The council has the authority to approve or deny the permit request and is not bound by the planning commission recommendation.
Also during the meeting Tuesday, the council will consider:
* Rezoning at 1.82-acre site, at 1301 Wayne Memorial Drive, from neighborhood business to a general business conditional district. The change would allow for the opening of an Advance Auto Parts store, alongside Family Dollar and Fourth Street.
* Rezoning a 4-acre site on Gateway Drive from an industrial and business park zone to a general business conditional district. Classic Goldsboro is seeking the change that would limit the property use for vehicle sales, as a parking lot extension for the nearby Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram dealership.
* A conditional-use permit allowing the operation of an internet sweepstakes business, from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., at 1716 U.S. 117 South, between Arrington Bridge Road and S. George St.
Phoenix T is seeking the permit for the former Longhorn Business Center, which was shut down by law enforcement in February due to noncompliance with state law. The owner contends that gaming software has been updated to comply with the law.
* Site and landscape plans for an 0.64-acre site, on the east side of N. William St., between Raynor and Brogden streets. Group W Management is interested in renovating the former Alexis Transportation Services building into a retail auto parts and supply store.
* Setting a Jan. 17 public hearing for an Ample Storage Goldsboro annexation request. The request includes property recently approved for the addition of three new rental storage buildings along 104 Tenth Place, near U.S. 70 and Premiere Theatres.
* A contract with Bell's Tree Service for the removal of damaged trees and stumps throughout the city. The contract cost is based on the size and quantity of tree and stump removals.
* A three-year lease agreement with the Yamaha Motor Finance Corp. for 58 new golf carts, at a $48.95 cost per month per vehicle, for the Goldsboro Municipal Golf Course.
* A co-location lease agreement with T-Mobile South allowing the company to add a communication antenna to the top of the city's water tank at 111 Harris St.
The agreement includes T-Mobile paying the city an annual lease cost of $26,400, with a base fee increase of 3 percent each year, to attach the antenna. The antenna will have the capacity for colocations by other communication providers.
The council will meet at 5:30 p.m. for a work session, in the City Hall Annex, 200 N. Center St. The meeting includes reports on the SmART grant initiative from the Arts Council of Wayne County and mosquito control from the public works department.