By Karissa Minn
kminn@salisburypost.com
The Rowan County Board of Commissioners delayed a decision on a rezoning Monday that would allow a funeral home to be built near High Rock Lake.
On behalf of Annie Boone-Carroll, real estate agent Cathy Shoaf submitted a rezoning request for a 1-acre property at 4725 Long Ferry Road from rural agricultural to commercial, business and industrial.
Boone-Carroll wants to convert a vacant 2,720-square-foot convenience store on the property into a funeral home. She said she is a 20-year veteran of the business.
When Commissioner Raymond Coltrain asked why she chose a location outside a municipality, Boone-Carroll said the options she found in Landis, Kannapolis and Concord were too expensive.
“When I viewed this location, the building was something that fit my budget for a starter business,” she said.
Eight neighbors and a fire chief spoke against the rezoning during the public hearing. Many were concerned about increased traffic for services and clogged roads during funeral processions.
Bobby Fox, chief of the Miller Ferry Fire Department, said he is concerned about keeping the way clear for emergency responders.
Long Ferry Road goes on for about 2.8 miles past the proposed funeral home location, with no outlet and no access to other roads. About 1,400 residents live in communities in that area, Fox said.
“There are no other outlets for response,” he said. “You have 1,400 residents who will be impacted by this in a very negative manner.”
In addition, some raised concerns that a nearby curve limits sight distance and could cause accidents if people park along the road.
James Morton, an engineer from the design firm representing Boone-Carroll, said the planned 31 parking places would be “more than adequate” for a small, 80-seat chapel. He said employees will help control parking for funerals, along with an off-duty deputy.
“I think the neighbors will be proud of how the building looks when it’s refurbished,” Morton said. “This will be a positive addition to the community.”
Boone-Carroll said she has been in contact with the N.C. Department of Transportation about putting “no parking” signs on the road, and Morton said she could notify emergency services when funerals occur.
Georgina Turner, who lives near the property on Hedrick Lambe Drive, said neither of those measures are enough.
“For us who live past the funeral home, will we have to wait for EMS to be let through?” Turner said.
Neighbors also said they were concerned about groundwater contamination from embalming fluids, because properties in that area use well water and septic tanks.
Morton said Boone-Carroll is avoiding formaldehyde in favor of safer fluids, which will be disposed of safely.
Nearby resident James Baker said the property used to be a gas station and called it outrageous” that four underground fuel tanks have not been removed.
The current owner of the property, Patricia Jordan, said the tanks have been cleaned while in the ground.
“The EPA and hazardous waste folks have been out there over the years to make sure there is nothing left there to contaminate,” Jordan said. “It’s been declared safe with no runoff.”
Commissioner Jim Sides asked if the planning board had discussed the fuel tanks, and Planner Andy Goodall said he didn’t think so.
“Was there official documentation from the EPA releasing any issues with those tanks?” Sides said. He also asked if there were records of the cleanup.
Jordan and a couple of neighbors then offered to submit documents for the record.
Chairman Chad Mitchell said the board may want to continue the public hearing until May 2 to allow time to review the documents. Sides made the motion and the board approved it.
Also at Monday’s meeting, commissioners unanimously voted in favor of rezoning 5 acres off Grubb Ferry Road from rural agricultural to industrial conditional use for a sand dredging and mining operation along the Yadkin River.
Carolina Sand Inc. told the county that additional acreage is needed to meet a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requirement to avoid and minimize impacts to wetland areas.
Contact reporter Karissa Minn at 704-797-4222.
In other business
Rowan County Commissioners also:
• Approved beginning the upset bid process for a $160,000 offer from Dallas Winecoff to purchase a property at 6205 Mooresville Highway. The house was formerly used as a group home but has been vacant since 2006.
•  Approved a permit to exceed noise standards from Blue Waters Recreation Inc. for a Relay for Life event from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. on May 7.
• Discussed a N.C. Association of County Commissioners questionnaire.
Commissioners agreed that the county’s No. 1 issue of concern about the state budget is shifting responsibilities to counties, and its No. 1 non-budget-related legislative issue is involuntary annexation.
• Recognized the North Rowan High School Men’s Varsity Basketball Team as 1A State Champions and the Salisbury High School Women’s Varsity Basketball Team as 2A State Champions.
• Approved the use of pyrotechnics for the fireworks display at Kannapolis Intimidators baseball games.
• Approved a limited fixed-base operator agreement for Amos Aviation with changes made at the March 7 meeting.