2007

Council denies 301 zoning change

Slugline Publication Date Section(s) Page Byline Council_denies_301_zoning_change__ Wilson Daily Times September 21, 2007 Local News

By Rochelle Moore Daily Times Staff Writer The Wilson City Council was divided Thursday in its decision to deny a rezoning change to several properties along the U.S. 301 corridor near Lipscomb Road. The board voted 4-2 against changing the U.S. 301, Ward Boulevard and Lipscomb Road triangle area from an intermediate business district to a neighborhood service district. The Highway 301 Advisory Committee asked for the change, which would have made the area more neighborhood friendly with property uses that could include a shopping center or multifamily dwellings. Councilman Bob Thaxton voted against the change because he said it would have removed 34 land uses allowable in the current business district, which could prohibit development and add to the economic decline of the area. Property values would also take a hit, he said. "That's been our goal for this council is to create jobs and everything else and improve the economy of the city of Wilson," Thaxton said. Councilman Bill Blackman was also concerned that the zoning change would open the door for other requests across the city that would benefit residents and prohibit business development. "I can't vote for this," Blackman said. "If we approve this, it could come up all over town. There are other areas in town that have the same situation." Thaxton, Blackman and Councilman Donald Evans were also against the move because the request did not come from the property owners. "I don't think we should rezone this property when the property owners did not ask for it," Evans said.

None of the property owners spoke in favor or against the change during the Thursday council meeting. Only one property owner, Elizabeth Hicks, voiced her opposition to the change through a letter sent to the city by her attorney. Councilman James Johnson III voted against the rezoning request, but asked city staff if there was a way to reduce business traffic along Ward Boulevard, between Lipscomb Road and U.S. 301. Kentucky Fried Chicken and McDonald's are located within the triangle area. The rezoning request would not have had any impact on the restaurants. Councilwoman Doris Jones, who lives behind the triangle, was prohibited from voting since the decision could have an economic impact on her property. Jones, however, pleaded with the council to make the change. "We're talking about those of us on that little strip on Ward Boulevard," Jones said. "We are not asking for anything that we're not entitled to." Councilman A.P. Coleman and Councilwoman Gwen Burton voted in favor of the zoning change. Coleman said he was sensitive to the needs of nearby residents, and Burton said the recommendation came from the Highway 301 Committee charged with making such recommendations to the city. "It comes from a task force that we asked to look at this issue and make recommendations for improvement of this corridor," Burton said. "The applicant for this change is the advisory committee for the 301 corridor. It's not Doris Jones alone, it's a cross section of people. They are trying to do what we asked the task force to do." The Wilson Planning Board, which reviewed the request during its Sept. 4 meeting, was also divided in its decision to recommend the change to the City Council. rochelle@wilsontimes.com | 265-7818