SILER CITY — Working through a light agenda Monday night, the Siler City Board of Commissioners approved two rezoning requests and authorized several changes to the town’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).
After conducting a public hearing on a rezoning request from Dr. Kenneth M. Lommel, commissioners approved rezoning a small property on 517 N. 2nd Ave. Formerly zoned for Office-Institutional use, the 0.281-acre property, owned by Kenneth and Jo-Ann Lommel and currently used as a chiropractor’s office, was rezoned in a unanimous vote for Highway-Commercial use.
Following the lead of the Siler City Planning Board, which had earlier recommended commissioners approve the requested rezoning, the board found the request compatible with the town’s Land Development Plan and surrounding land uses, which include vacant commercial space, single family residential, multifamily residential, and gas sales.
Commissioners likewise gave their unanimous consent to a rezoning request from Jeff Lineberry, who sought rezoning of 0.19 acres, currently vacant at 319 E. 3rd St., from Highway-Commercial to Neighborhood-Business zoning. Surrounding land uses include a restaurant, single family residential, offices, services and parking. The property is surrounded by Business (B-1)- and Highway-Commercial-zoned properties.
The Planning Board had previously reviewed the rezoning application and recommended commissioners approve the request, noting in their recommendation that the new zoning limits the “proliferation of single-purpose highway-oriented commercial areas” and encourages mixed-use development.
Commissioners, in approving the rezoning, found the request to be consistent with the town’s Land Development Plan and noted the “highest and best use” of the property appears to be residential.
The board also reviewed and approved several changes — all related to streets and sidewalks/parking and driveways — to the town’s UDO.
The changes limit driveway access from new major subdivisions onto major roadways. Using a proposed new residential development on Ivey Avenue at the former of Chatham Hospital property as an example, Siler City Planning Director Jack Meadows noted the ordinance change would require a single entrance and exit from the subdivision onto Ivey Ave., a “heavily-traveled street,” rather than allow multiple private driveway access.
The approved change applies only to larger subdivisions of 13 or more lots.
Commissioner Lewis Fadely asked if the change could have “any adverse affect” on new housing developments; Meadows said the change is aimed at traffic safety and is “not intended to have any negative affect.”
Commissioners also considered new language in the UDO relating to parking space dimensions, and unanimously approved all changes.
In other business, Mark Reif, community relations manager for Mountaire Farms, reviewed plans for the poultry processor’s upcoming “Rock the Block” event, during which Mountaire volunteers, teaming up with Habitat for Humanity, will work to spruce up a residential area off Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
“This is the first time we’re doing it and we’ll probably be continue to do it periodically,” said Reif. “It’s just a way to show our consideration and caring for the community.”
Randall Rigsbee can be reached at rigsbee@chathamnr.com.