ABC board to build fence at new store near school
By Sierra Henry
Published in News on July 25, 2018 5:50 AM
Full Size
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Residents have approached the Goldsboro City Council about building a fence between Tommy\'s Road Elementary School and an ABC Store being constructed in an adjoining property on Wayne Memorial Drive.
The Wayne County ABC Board has agreed to build a fence behind its new store on Wayne Memorial Drive after hearing from Elisha Artis, a parent who was concerned about the new store's close proximity to Tommy's Road Elementary School.
"Their concern was not so much the kids would have access, but that people would be able to access the school," Michael Myrick, general manager at the Wayne County ABC Board, said.
According to Ken Derksen, communications and public relations officer for Wayne County Public Schools, the concern was brought to Mayor Chuck Allen as a follow-up to a community group's comments shared during a Goldsboro City Council meeting. The principal of Tommy's Road Elementary and WCPS staff were present during the meeting to answer questions if needed.
"With the HWY 70 bypass and the new Maxwell Center now open, Wayne Memorial Drive has become a prime area for development," Dr. Michael Dunsmore, WCPS superintendent, wrote in an email. "While the school district cannot control the encroachment of businesses near Tommy's Road Elementary, we are pleased to see a neighboring business recognize the importance of student safety as it pertains to the added traffic and increased number of community members coming into the area."
Dunsmore thanked the various groups who have made their voices heard on the matter.
"We appreciate the parents who have spoken up regarding the need for fencing along the Tommy's Road Elementary property line," he said. "We also appreciate the efforts of the City of Goldsboro, the County of Wayne, and the Wayne County ABC Board who came together to help create a larger fence than planned to help prevent individuals from using the store's property to come on to ours and to ensure the school's campus is not used as a cut through to get to and from the store."
Myrick said that the ABC Board was planning on building a fence when the idea was brought to them. It will be attached to the Walmart Neighborhood Market's fence and will sit 8 to 10 feet tall. It was unclear what kind of fence the board intends to build.
While the location meets site-distance requirements set by state law, there were some concerns regarding how close the new ABC store would be to the school. A previous state law required a 50-foot distance from a school or church, but now requires stores not to be within an "unreasonable" distance.
Myrick said that the building is slated to be finished by mid-November and is currently ahead of schedule. The new site will include a 5,000-square-foot building, 33 parking spaces and an entrance along Wayne Memorial Drive and is estimated to cost $800,000 to $1 million to build. It will be Wayne County's sixth location.