SILER CITY — Taking action this week, the Siler City Board of Commissioners changed the zoning of 262 acres along U.S. 64 and Stockyard Road from Agriculture/Residential to Heavy Industrial.
The newly-rezoned properties, owned by Tim’s Farm & Forestry, are adjacent to the larger Chatham-Siler City Advanced Manufacturing (CAM) site being marketed for use by large industry.
Commissioners on Monday found the rezoning request to be consistent with the town’s land development plan and consistent with surrounding land uses, which include single-family residential, forestry and agricultural uses.
Siler City’s planning board had previously reviewed the zoning change request and recommended on April 8 that commissioners authorize the change. In their recommendation, the planning board said the map amendment is consistent with the land use plan and encourages development to occur in areas with existing or planned infrastructure including water, sewer and roads.
Before casting unanimous votes approving the zoning change, commissioners conducted a public hearing on the rezoning request.
One Stockyard Road resident, Connie Fraser, expressed concern that the rezoning could affect the value of her 10.5-acre property, but town planning director Jack Meadows said the zoning change would have no impact on surrounding property use.
Also commenting during the public hearing was Alyssa Byrd, president of the Chatham County Economic Development Corporation, who spoke in favor of the rezoning, noting the rezoned acreage will further enhance the EDC’s ability to market the property for industrial use.
In other business, commissioners unanimously approved a request by the Siler City Lions Club to close streets en route to and from Bray Park to downtown Siler City on May 11 for approximately one hour to accommodate the Lions’ planned 5K Run/Walk. The event raises funds for the visually impaired, said Lions president Juanita Brown, and commissioners were supportive of the Lions’ plans, unanimously approving the temporary street closures between 9 and 10 a.m. on the date of the event. However, interim police chief Jeanne Miller expressed some concerns about staffing. Brown and the police chief plan to meet to iron out those details, including potentially getting assistance from the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office and the N.C. Highway Patrol for help meeting public safety concerns. Miller said the event would require the involvement of 12 to 14 Siler City police officers.
Brown said the event was conducted last year, with 37 runners and walkers participating, without incident. The same route from last year’s 5K event will be used this year, Brown said.
Commissioners also unanimously approved closing part of North and South Chatham Avenue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 18 for the Milo Holt Western Film Festival, which will bring a number of attractions to downtown for the ninth edition of the festival.
Festival organizer Linda Lehman said plans for this year’s Milo Holt Festival include many Old West-related attractions, including re-enactments of shoot-outs, a kids rodeo, and screenings of Western films.
The board also took action to close the unopened Spring Street, which is off E. Third Street. Commissioners conducted a public hearing on the matter, with attorney Joshua Lee of the law firm Moody, Williams, Roper & Lee representing an adjacent property owner asking that the unopened street be closed.
The board voted unanimously to approve the closure request.