HOPE MILLS — The Hope Mills Board of Commissioners on Monday night will discuss zoning overlay districts as a way to guide growth in the town.
The board has a special meeting at 6 p.m. to discuss business overlay districts. The regular board meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
In July, the board placed a temporary moratorium on certain businesses while town staff works to create an overlay district.
The temporary moratorium, which is in effect until January, allows the town to restrict and even temporarily hold business licenses until an overlay district can be put into place.
Overlay zoning is a regulatory tool that creates a special zoning district over existing zoning. It can include additional or different regulations that apply within the district.
During the regular board meeting, the board will hold a public hearing on the proposed rezoning of 1.19 acres from C1(P) Planned Local Business to R5 Single Family, or a more restrictive zoning district. The property is at 4092 Professional Drive and the request was submitted by Longleaf Properties on behalf of the Cumberland County Hospital System Inc., which owns the property, according to materials in the agenda package.
The board also is scheduled to receive an update from architect Scott Garner on the Public Safety Building. Garner last reported to the board that the project is moving along and on time.
As the building reaches its final stages, the town has fine-tuned plans to address the needs of the employees who will make use of the facilities. Garner in recent meetings has asked the board to approve items that were paid for from the project’s contingency fund. Monday’s meeting does not include such a request, according to the agenda.
The building is scheduled to be occupied this fall.
In other business, the board has several items on its consent agenda. Items on the consent agenda are generally passed with little or no discussion by the board.
One of the items is the consideration of a Sheetz gas station on the southeast corner of Chickenfoot Road and the U.S. 301 service road. The station would be on 10.6 acres that are part of a 92-acre plot that is currently vacant, according to materials in the agenda package.
The developer plans to build a 6,879-square-foot Sheetz that will accommodate six double-sided gas pumps for regular cars and eight double-sided gas pumps for diesels. The site would include 45 parking spaces with an additional 39 overnight parking spaces for tractor-trailers. The development also would include a 1,649-square-foot car wash and truck scale, according to a report from Chancer McLaughlin, the development services director, to Town Manager Scott Meszaros.
Town staff recommends approval of the request.
Also on the consent agenda, the board will consider authorizing the town manager to sign an annual storm drain cleaning contract for 2022-23. The $100,000 contract is with Intragrade and is included in the current budget.
In a memo to Meszaros, stormwater administrator Elisabeth Brown wrote: “Storm drain maintenance is a very important part of the drainage systems’ functional ability to carry rainwater from the streets during peak rain events.
“Many of the systems in Town are older and have small-sized piping. During heavy rain events, drains can become clogged with yard debris and sediment washing from private property. For the last three years, the cleaning contract proved to be very beneficial during flash flooding events.’’
Also on the consent agenda, the town will consider accepting state funding for stormwater projects and approval of a related resolution and budget amendment. The town had asked for $300,000 for stormwater projects and is receiving $600,000 in American Rescue Plan Act Funds through the state, according to materials in the agenda package.
Jason Canady covers Hope Mills for CityViewTODAY. He can be reached at jcanady@cityviewnc.com. Have a news tip? Email news@CityViewTODAY.com.
