By Shavonne Potts
Salisbury Post
LANDIS ó The Board of Aldermen here denied a landowner’s request Monday to rezone his Kimball Road property from single-family residential to general business.
And it was apparent that that decision pleased the many Landis residents gathered at the board meeting who didn’t want a business built in their neighborhood.
Rick Register had requested the rezoning for land he owns adjacent to Food Lion on the backside and across the street from residential property, some of which lies in China Grove and some in Landis.
One by one, residents spoke in opposition to the proposed change during a public hearing.
Landis resident Jeff Hall said his property adjoins the land in question and he was not in favor of the requested change.
“I don’t want to look at commercial buildings in my neighborhood,” Hall said.
Jay Robinette, speaking on behalf of himself and family members who live on Kimball Road, said they were strongly in favor of maintaining the aesthetics of the neighborhood.
Robinette talked about Register potentially using the property for a storage facility. Robinette said he didn’t doubt that Register would do a good job, but he still didn’t want a business in the residential area.
Joe Strickland, who spoke on behalf of Register, said they’ve looked at the issues including buffering and setbacks.
“We don’t want to do anything that’s not pleasing to the community. But I don’t think we’re asking for anything out of the ordinary,” he said.
Strickland said the business would generate dollars for the town.
At previous meetings, Mayor Mike Mahaley expressed concern about businesses moving into neighborhoods. Alderman George Pless said he was worried about the increased traffic flow.
In other matters, the board:
– Approved a zoning request of single-family residential for property owned by Atlantic American Properties at the intersection of Airport Road and Fifth Street.
The property will be the main entrance of the subdivision going in at the newly renamed Kannapolis Country Club, now the Club at Irish Creek.
As single-family zoning, the property, which totals 20.19 acres, would blend in with the existing zoning on the other properties. No one spoke during the public hearing on the requested rezoning.
– Approved construction plans for the Twin Oaks subdivision, which will be located off North Chapel Street and U.S. 29 South.
Before approving the plans, the board heard from David Settlemyer of Craft Development who discussed the N.C. Department of Transportation not agreeing with the need for a turn lane at the entrance of the subdivision.
Settlemyer agreed with town planning board members who said with the high volume of traffic that would be exiting and entering the subdivision would require a turn lane.
Alderman Craig Sloop said he was under the impression that since the town requested the turn lane it was to be built into the developer’s plans.
“We put it in because the city requested it,” Settlemyer said.Town Administrator Reed Linn said he would speak with someone from the Department of Transportation about the need for turn lanes.
– Decided to look into a gang graffiti removal ordinance. The proposal, introduced by Alderman James Furr, would establish a time frame for property owners to clean up graffiti. The board did not make a decision, but will review similar ordinances adopted by other towns.
Furr talked about graffiti around South Central Avenue and Recreation Director Julie Noblitt spoke of vandalism at Linn Field.
Furr noted the presence of graffiti referring to the gang the Landis Crips.
“The longer it stays up, the more it tells them that we accept it,” Furr said.
Mahaley said he opposed burdening taxpayers with having to remove the graffiti themselves.
“We’ve got some responsibility here,” he said.
– Approved the name Shelty Lane for a private street as requested by the Sechler family. Linn said that with a new subdivision coming in, the family, whose members live at North Chapel Street, would lose entry into their road but have access to a private drive. For emergency services purposes, the private drive was given a name chosen by the family.
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Contact Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253 or spotts@salisburypost.com.