June 20, 2007

Published in Wake Forest, NC

            The vote was four to zero because Commissioner Stephen Barrington was out of town. He had asked to participate by conference call but technical problems prevented that.

            Commissioner Margaret Stinnett cited noise and dust as the reason to deny the permit.

            Business owners in the park objected to the plant. Robert Earnhardt, president of the owners’ association, said noise and dust from the plant would prevent desirable companies from locating in the park and the increased truck traffic would further damage One World Way and Unicon Drive.

            The discussion was a mite testier when the topic was the rezoning of five parcels in the larger reservoir tract owned by the Ammons family. Stinnett wanted to delay action until some neighbors along Wait Street were satisfied that the flooding and erosion from an unstabilized borrow pit were resolved.

            Andy Ammons agreed after the planning board meeting earlier this month to take responsibility and install a permanent solution, Town Manager Mark Williams said. The borrow pit was used by N.C. Department of Transportation for fill when building the N.C. 98 bypass. It is not on the parcels to be rezoned.

            “It’s my understanding one of the homeowners is not happy,” Stinnett said.

            “I don’t think she’s ever going to be satisfied,” Williams said. He said zoning has nothing to do with drainage and the planning board or commissioners could make conditions about the erosion during site plan review.

            “They can go ahead with the zoning that’s already been done,” Commissioner David Camacho said. The changes before the board are a minor adjustment, he said, and the planned development on the reservoir tract is “key to the northeast development”  and because of roads – building part of the North Loop and rebuilding Oak Grove Church Road and Gilcrest Farm Road – are vital transportation links.

            “It’s been rezoned how long?” Stinnett said, suggesting there has been no action since the first zoning and that might continue.

            “What do you hope to accomplish?” Mayor Vivian Jones said. “They’re going to go forward. They’re going to be bringing a site plan to us.

            Director of Engineering Eric Keravuori said the work at the borrow site should be finished in two to three weeks. “They’re building a permanent detention pond and rerouting the water completely behind it to the stream.”

            “Andy’s always done what he said he’d do,” Commissioner Frank Drake said, but he voted with Stinnett to deny the rezoning.

            Camacho and Commissioner Velma Boyd-Lawson voted to approve, and Jones had a rare opportunity to break a tie, voting for the rezoning.

            Jones had to break a tie earlier that evening when the commissioners were evenly divided on an appointment to the Historic Preservation Commission. She voted for South Main Street resident Debra Ludas. Jon E. Eisen of North Main Street was the other applicant.

            In other zoning items, the commissioners:

·         Agreed to rezone 38.6 acres on North Main Street to residential for 104 single-family lots, the subdivision to be called The Meadows. Because there was a valid protest petition from residents in Olde Mill Stream, a three-fourths vote was necessary, and Boyd, Camacho and Stinnett voted yes, Drake no.

·         Amended the zoning ordinance to include a section regulating wireless telecommunications facilities.

·         Agreed to annex 29 acres on Capital Boulevard owned by The Wright People.

·         Continued a public hearing on the annexation of 34 acres on Copper Beech Lane south of Oak Grove Church Road until review of the site plan by ECI Custom Homes can be heard at the same time.