Town in good financial shape

Southern Pines Gaines sought a zoning alteration. At its Monday, June 28 meeting, the Aberdeen Town Board approved the request, but with conditions.  

The change involves 60.52 acres Southern Pines Gaines wants to make available for retail. For that to happen, the zoning status of two parcels needed to go from Light Industrial to Conditional Zoning Light Industrial.

The parcels are located on Highway 5 and Saunders Avenue.

Justin Westbrook, the planning director for Aberdeen, saying his office is concerned about unchecked retail use, recommended approval of the request, with conditions, including a limit on the amount of space available for retail. Other stipulations call for landscape changes, conformity with traffic recommendations, and that adequate parking is available.  

The applicant, Justin Schaad, before explaining his position, expressed appreciation for the work done by Westbrook and town staff. Board members praised the applicant’s desire to comply with the conditions.

Space for light industry, it was noted, remains on the larger of the two parcels, Lot 2. A convenience store with fuel sales is planned for Lot 1.

A proposal to rezone approximately 0.46 acres at 300 East Main by Cardon Development, LLC was withdrawn at the meeting. The applicant wanted to have the associated property’s designation moved from Residential Single-Family (R-10) to Conditional Zoning – Central Business (CZ CB). Considering the proposal would likely have been rejected by the board – based on staff review – the business withdrew prior to any vote.

The registered address for Cardon Development, LLC is on E. Connecticut Avenue in Southern Pines.

The board approved Option 2 for the downtown traffic reconfiguration. Option 2 will convert N. Sycamore Street from two-way traffic to northbound traffic only between Knight Street and W. Maple Street. It will also convert Knight Street from two-way traffic to eastbound traffic only between N. Poplar Street and N. Sycamore Street. This traffic change is expected to begin in approximately three months.

Commissioners authorized staff to write and send three letters to the NC Legislature requesting funding for construction of a library, funding for the sportsplex project, and funding for traffic improvements for entering the sportsplex site.

Approval to finance the purchase of a fire truck, through Lumbee River Electric Membership Corporation, was also considered. The financing would total $638,000 and involves two promissory notes, one at 1 percent and the second at 0 percent.

Lumbee River Electric Membership Corporation is a not-for-profit electric utility owned by more than 54,000 members.

The meeting took place at the Robert N. Page Municipal Building in Aberdeen.

~Written by Sandhills Sentinel Reporter Dave Lukow.

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