) STOKES COUNTY GOVERNMENT
COUNTY OF STOKES ) DANBURY, NORTH CAROLINA
) FEBRUARY 3, 2009
The Board of
Commissioners of the County of Stokes, State of North Carolina, met
for regular session (Planning) in the Commissioners’ Chambers of the
Ronald Wilson Reagan
Memorial Building (Administrative Building) located in Danbury, North
Carolina on
Tuesday, February 3, 2009 at 7:00 pm with the following members
present:
Chairman
J. Leon Inman
Vice-Chairman
Jimmy Walker
Commissioner Ron
Carroll
Commissioner
Ernest Lankford
Commissioner
Stanley Smith
County
Personnel in Attendance:
County
Manager K. Bryan Steen
Clerk
to the Board Darlene Bullins
Planning
Director David Sudderth
Emergency
Services Director Monty Stevens
Chairman J. Leon Inman called the meeting to
order.
Commissioner Lankford delivered the
invocation.
GENERAL
GOVERNMENT-GOVERNING BODY-PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chairman Inman opened
the meeting by inviting the citizens in attendance to
join the Board with the Pledge of Allegiance.
GENERAL
GOVERNMENT – GOVERNING BODY – APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Chairman Inman entertained a motion to approve
or amend the February 3rd Agenda
that was submitted at tonight’s meeting by Clerk to the Board Darlene
Bullins, which reflects
the new order for Planning Meeting Agendas.
Commissioner Lankford moved to approve the
February 3rd Agenda submitted at
tonight’s meeting.
Vice Chairman Walker seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC
COMMENTS
There were no public
comments.
GENERAL
GOVERNMENT – REZONING REQUEST #210- JOHN REX MATHIS III PUBLIC
HEARING/PRESENTATION/DISCUSSION/ACTION AGENDAS
Public
Hearing
Chairman Inman opened the Public Hearing for
the Rezoning Request #210 - RA
(Residential Agricultural) to H-B (Highway Business) – John Rex Mathis
III.
There were no public
comments.
Chairman Inman closed
the Public Hearing.
Presentation
Planning Director David Sudderth presented the following information regarding
Rezoning Request #210 (RA) Residential Agricultural to (H-B) Highway Business:
REQUEST: Request by property owner John Rex
Mathis III to rezone approximately .8734 acres of property from RA (Residential
Agricultural) to H-B (Highway Business).
SITE OWNER:
John Rex Mathis III
APPLICANT: John Rex Mathis III
SITE LOCATION: The
property is located at the corner of NC Hwy 66 and Denny Rd.(SR# 2000)
Map: 690404 Parcel: 8048 PIN
#: 6904-04-60-4590, 6904-04-60-6530, 6904-04-60-5422
Deed Book: 578 & 579 Pages: 533 & 1991 Township:
Yadkin
SITE INFORMATION:
PARCEL SIZE: Total tract .8734 acres, approximately 38,045.3 sq. ft.
ZONING DISTRICT: RA (Residential Agricultural)
PROPOSED DISTRICT: H-B (Highway Business)
FLOOD HAZARD AREA: N/A.
FIRM MAP #: 3710690400J
FIRM MAP ZONE: Property is located in Zone X, area determined to be outside the 500-year floodplain.
WATERSHED DISTRICT: N/A
SEPTIC/WATER
APPROVAL: Public water (City of
King), septic approval has been issued for a business with four employees.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS: N/A
EMERGENCY SERVICES: Sauratown VFD, EMS - Station # 3 &
4 -Pinnacle.
EROSION CONTROL: When
construction begins, if necessary, less than one (1) acre being disturbed.
ACCESS: Access is
proposed off of NC Hwy 66. NCDOT must approve a commercial driveway access.
SURROUNDING LAND USE: The subject property is located at the corner of Denny Rd and NC Hwy 66. The property is currently zoned RA (Residential Agricultural). The City of King owns property adjacent to the site, which is utilized for a water tower. There is a small H-B (Highway Business) parcel next to the site that also has frontage on NC Hwy 66. There currently is a residence on this property. The driveway for this residence encroaches on the parcel involved in the rezoning request. The remaining surrounding property is zoned M-1 (Light Manufacturing). Property across NC Hwy 66 is zoned RA (Residential Agricultural) and is currently used for residential purposes. Property across from Denny Rd. is zoned RA (Residential Agricultural) and is a part of the Mount Olive Cemetery.
ISSUES TO CONSIDER:
·
Consistency
with surrounding development.
STAFF COMMENTS: The rezoning request comes to the Board as a general use rezoning request in the H-B (Highway Business) zoning district; you may discuss the plat plan and commercial use of the property in general not specific terms. There is currently an older house on parcel 6904-04-60-5422 and a singlewide mobile home on parcel 6904-04-60-5422. The applicant has indicated that these would be removed from these parcels. The property, which is currently used for residential purposes, is surrounded by commercial property to the south, (H-B) and commercial property (M-1) and a City of King water tower to the east. The commercial property to the south (H-B) is currently used for residential purposes and was zoned commercially under the original adoption of the zoning ordinance in 1983. The commercial property to the east was recently amended with a Conditional Use Permit, which was approved on 10-02-07 for (12) mini-storage warehouses. The requested change of the property to H-B (Highway Business) does not appear to be out of context with the immediate surrounding property. Residential use of the property may be an option, but the most appropriate use may be for commercial purposes. The property has access to public water but will be served by a septic system. There are limitations to the uses that can be allowed on the property due to existing infrastructure and the size of the parcel. If the rezoning petition is approved, a site plan would have to be submitted for any specific use proposed.
PLANNING BOARD RECOMMENDATION: The Planning Board voted 8 to 0 to recommend
approval of Rezoning Request #210 from RA (Residential Agricultural) to
H-B (Highway Business). The Board felt that the request for a commercial zoning
district was consistent with the surrounding zoning classifications and the
mixed uses along NC Hwy 66.
Planning
Director Sudderth noted that there was no opposition to the Rezoning
Request and that the Planning Board voted 8 to 0 to recommend approval of the request.
Discussion
The Board discussed the Rezoning Request.
Planning Director Sudderth noted that when a project is proposed, there could be a
need for a Conditional Use Permit.
The Board had no issues with the Rezoning Request.
Action
Chairman Inman entertained a motion.
Commissioner Smith moved to approve Rezoning Request #210 (RA to H-B).
Vice Chairman Walker seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
GENERAL
GOVERNMENT – CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT #211 – STOKES COUNTY EMS FACILITY
PUBLIC
HEARING/PRESENTATION/DISCUSSION/ACTION AGENDAS
Public Hearing
Chairman Inman opened the Public Hearing for
Conditional Use Permit #211 Stokes
County – EMS Facility.
The following spoke during the Public Hearing:
Carolyn Bost
1010 Sterling Point Drive
King, NC 27021
Ms. Bost stated she lives across the street from the proposed
site. Ms. Bost expressed concerns that
with the rezoning, the City of King might annex their property. Ms. Bost stated that she has no issues with
an EMS Station being in the neighborhood, other than the fear of being annexed
by the City of King and possibly being forced to connect to sewer services if
provided in the area. Ms. Bost did
request if the unit could refrain from using their sirens at night due to young
children being in the bed.
Chairman Inman closed the Public Hearing.
Planning Director
Sudderth noted that information recently received from the City of
King, indicates there are no intentions to run sewer to the area in
question, the EMS Station
will have its own septic system.
Planning Director Sudderth also noted a proposed bill in the
General Assembly, if adopted, will allow
individuals being considered for annexation the right
to vote on the issue.
EMS Director Monty
Stevens noted that by law, if the red lights are on, the siren must be
on, but using the siren depends on the traffic volume, the time of day,
and assured Ms. Bost that
the Units would take their request into consideration.
Presentation
Planning Director David Sudderth presented the following information regarding
the Conditional Use Permit #211 - Stokes County EMS Station:
REQUEST: The County of Stokes is requesting a
Conditional Use Permit for the construction of an Emergency Medical Service
Facility.
SITE OWNER: Stokes County
APPLICANT: Stokes County
SITE LOCATION: The property is located on the west side of Chestnut Grove Rd. (SR# 1139) approximately .2 mile south of the Chestnut Grove Rd. and Volunteer Rd. intersection across from Sterling Pointe Dr., (Prestwick subdivision).
Map: 5993 Parcel:
6915 PIN #: 5993-01-17-6915
Deed Book: 404 Page: 828 Township:
Yadkin
SITE INFORMATION:
PARCEL SIZE: Total tract 1.52 acre
ZONING DISTRICT: R-20 (Residential Low Density) this property is a combination of lots 1 & 2 in the Wildwood Cove subdivision recorded 8-24-77 and amended 12-29-78.
FLOOD HAZARD AREA: Not
located in flood hazard area.
FIRM MAP #: 3710599300J
FIRM MAP ZONE: Zone
X - Area outside 500-year floodplain.
WATERSHED DISTRICT: WS-IV (Yadkin River)
SEPTIC/WATER
APPROVAL: Public water (City of King). Soil has been found to be provisional
suitable for a septic system. Final plans for the building need to be submitted
before the septic system layout can be finalized.
EMERGENCY SERVICES: King
VFD, EMS - Station # 3 & 4 Pinnacle
ACCESS: Driveway access will be off of Chestnut Grove Rd. and should be approved by NCDOT
SURROUNDING PROPERTY: The surrounding property is zoned R-20 (Residential Low-Density) to the north, RA (Residential Agricultural) to the south and west and RE (Residential Exclusive) Prestwick subdivision to the east. The surrounding housing types are manufactured housing and stick built homes.
STAFF COMMENTS: The
Planning staff views this request as a necessary public safety facility, which
will provide benefits for the entire county. The Conditional Use Permit for
this facility falls under County Government uses in the R-20 (Residential
Low-Density) zoning district. The County Government uses category was created
for any public use of land or a building that the County may need to provide
public services to the citizens. The current EMS building in Pinnacle needs
repairs and is not adequate to handle expanded growth in the area and is not
suitable for expansion. The Board may add conditions to the request to ensure
the use will be compatible and acceptable to the community.
PLANNING BOARD RECOMMENDATION: The Planning Board voted 8 to 0 to recommend
approval of Conditional Use Permit # 211 for an EMS Facility under County
Governmental Uses. The Board made some general comments and expressed some
concerns about the proposed facility. They asked if there was adequate land
available for future expansion of the facility. The Board also asked if there
would be provisions for more than two ambulances an onsite fueling station and
an area for washing the vehicles.
Planning Director Sudderth noted that there was no opposition to the Conditional Use
Permit and that the Planning Board voted 8 to 0 to recommend approval of the request.
Discussion
The Board discussed the Conditional Use Permit.
Commissioner Smith confirmed with EMS Director Monty Stevens that the Office of
Emergency Services recommended the proposed site as the best site for an EMS Facility in that
particular area.
Vice Chairman Walker noted that the
proposed site is classified as governmental use,
which is not
taxable, which would probably discourage the city from annexing the site. Vice
Chairman Walker also
noted that the City of King is currently challenged in providing sewer in
other areas in the
city and would not expect the City to venture out that way unless a large
housing development
occurred in the area.
Chairman Inman stated that the City
of King and County of Stokes are two separate
entities and the
Conditional Use Permit is not being done so that the City of King can annex
the area, it is
being done to rezone an area in order to place an EMS Facility on the site
which
will serve the
northern part of the County as well as the King area.
The Board had no issues with the
Conditional Use Permit.
Director Sudderth noted that in approving a change in the existing Conditional Use
Permit, the Board should follow these guidelines and must respond and vote on each of the
following items concerning the issuance of a Conditional Use Permit:
The responsible body shall approve, modify, or deny the application for conditional use following the public hearing. In granting a special use, the responsible body shall insure:
(a) The requested use is listed among the special uses in the district for which application is made. Yes (5-0)
(b) The requested use is essential or desirable to the public convenience or welfare. Yes (5-0)
(c) The requested use will not impair the integrity or character of the surrounding or adjoining districts, nor be detrimental to the health, morals, or welfare. Yes (5-0)
(d) Due consideration has been given to the suitability of the property for the use applied for with respect to trends of growth or change; the effect of the proposed use upon the community; requirements for transportation, schools, parks, playgrounds, recreational area, conservation of natural resources, preservation of floodplains, and encouraging the most appropriate use of the land. Yes (5-0)
(e) Adequate utilities, access roads, drainage, sanitation and/or other necessary facilities have been or are being provided. Yes (5-0)
(f) That adequate measures have been or will be taken to provide ingress and egress so designed as to minimize traffic congestion in the public streets.
Yes
(5-0)
Action
Chairman Inman entertained a motion.
Commissioner Lankford moved to approve Conditional Use Permit #211 – Stokes
County EMS Facility. Commissioner Smith seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Planning Permits
Planning Director Sudderth informed the Board that January 2009 was the first month
since 1988 that there was not a permit issued for a stick built home in the County. Planning
Director Sudderth noted there were a few permits for modular and single wide mobile homes and
that March is usually the beginning of “building season” which should indicate where the
economy is going. Planning Director Sudderth stated that he would keep the Board informed.
New Cell Tower
Planning Director Sudderth informed the Board that a new cell tower is being proposed
to be located in the Lawsonville area which should help service in that area. The proposed cell
tower should be on the March Planning Agenda.
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before
the Board, Chairman Inman entertained a
motion to adjourn the meeting.
Commissioner Smith moved to adjourn the
meeting. Vice Chairman Walker seconded
and the motion carried unanimously.
________________________
_____________________________
Darlene M.
Bullins
J. Leon Inman
Clerk to the Board Chairman