Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Sept. 8, 1994, edition 1 / Page 6
Part of The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
County Board Says No To Cement Plants In Rural Zone BY ERIC CARLSON Responding to protests from zon ing watchdogs, the Brunswick County C ommissioners on Tuesday shot down a planning department proposal to allow cement mixing plants and seafood processing opera tions in the para! zones that encom pass most of the county's land. The board voted unanimously to reject the idea even after Planning Director Wade Home suggest^ a compromise that would have al lowed such uses on rural property as a "special exception" requiring ap proval by the zoning board of ad justment. Home said afterwards that the re quest for a zoning change to allow concrete plants was sparked by a re quest from "members of the public" who he declined to name. He sug gested that they might be persons in terested in building such a plant somewhere in the county, probably north of U.S. 17. "It was brought to our attention that due to the growing development in our county, we may need to ex pand concrete mixing facilities into other areas," Home said. Ten people spoke in opposition to the proposal at a public hearing be fore Monday's commissioners meet ing. Many were residents who got involved in land use issues during last year's fight to prohibit a pro posed gravel mine near Southport and have continued to take an in'er est in zoning. No one voiced support for the idea of allowing concrete mixing or seafood processing in rural areas. "There is already an existing zone to accommodate these uses," said Greta Watts. "What is the purpose of allowing them in a zone where peo ple make their homes? The dust and the stench would be reason enough to keep them in their existing zone. I see absolutely no logic in this re quest." Mei Hart of Moores Creek called the proposal "as wrong as it can be," saying that to allow such heavy uses would violate the intent of the rural zone. "People buy land in a rural zone because they want to live there," he said. "They don't want to find a plant operating next to them. This is wrong, people." Sabrina Puckett of Moores Creek said three concrete mixing facilities currently operate in the county, but none of them arc in rural zones. She questioned the need to alter the zon ing ordinance to add a permitted use to the rural zone that is already al lowed in the industrial zone. "It's wrong to take uses specifi cally allowed in one zone and put them in another," she said. "Tins zoning law is changing faster than the clock ticks." Robert Quinn of Southport said the idea of allowing heavy uses like concrete mixing and seafood pro cessing violates the stated intent of the rural zone. He noted that the farms and single-family homes are designated first and second on the list of permitted land uses in rural zones. "The idea is to allow homes in an atmosphere that is compatible for homes and JL J industries in a compatible atmosphere for industry. " ? Bob Quinn Under prohibited uses in rural zones, the law lists any use that is potentially offensive to residents "by reason of odor, smoke, noise, fumes" and other effects that might be "incompatible with the character" of the zoning district. "The idea is to allow homes in an atmospher. ;hat is compatible for homes and industries in a compati ble atmosphere for industry." Quinn said. Also speaking against the zone change were Suzanne Osborne, Reg ina Winders, Rosetta Short, Norm Puckett, Roberta Hart and Nancy Leggett. During their regular monthly meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously against the change in rural zoning and also denied a plan ning department request to allow seafood processing operations in commercial low -density zones. Home said afterward that the lat ter issue deserved consideration and should not have been included in the zoning change request. He said there are currently no seafood processing operations doing business in zones that allow such uses. Even the fish houses and oyster packing businesses that have been operating in Brunswick County for many years are currently listed as non-conforming uses in their zoning air.iricts. Home said. The request to allow them in C-LD zones was an attempt to encourage the opening of new seafood processing operations, he said. "I think we'll bring that one up in a different form at some later date," he said. In other business the board: ? Put off consideration of a 25 year contract with BCH Energy Corp. for recycling and disposing of Turnout Light For Shallotte Sewer Hearing BY DOUG RUTTER Most Shallotte residents apparent ly support the town board's proposal for a $1.9 million sewer system ex pansion project. Turnout was light for Tuesday night's public hearing on the facili ties plan, and the dozen residents who did attend had nothing but good things to say about the idea of more than tripling the sewer system's ca pacity. "I think we should get on with it as quickly as possible," said John Twomey of Brierwood Estates. "1 just feel like anything we can do to better our community we should move ahead," added Dillon Taylor. Shallotte officials plan to expand the system capacity from its existing level of 206,000 gallons per day (gpd) to 750,000 gpd. The project should take about 18 months to complete. Based on residential and commer cial growth projections, the 550,000 gpd expansion will be needed in or der to serve Shallotte adequately for the next 20 years. The 10-year-old sewer plant cur rently treats about 140,000 gallons of wastewater per day. That figure is expected to more than double within the next 10 years and reach 750,000 gpd by the year 2014. Town officials are proposing the expansion in two phases, with the first phase increasing capacity to 400,000 gpd at a cost of $1,113,200. The cost estimate for the second phase is $681,200. Engineer Street Lee, project man ager with McKim & Creed of Wilmington, said Tuesday night he feels good about Shallotte 's chances of receiving a low-interest State Revolving Fund loan to pay for the project. To pay back the loan, town offi cials will use impact fees, capital re serve fees and fws ? all of which the town collects from landowners when they develop property. Aldermen also anticipate increas ing the minimum monthly sewer rate from $12.84 to $17.04, which adds up to an extra $50 per house hold per year. Residents and businesses that "Our future 's bright if we don't slip up. We've got to get our sewer in and be ready for it. " ? Alderman Carson Durham generate more than 3,000 gallons of wastewater per month would pay an additional $5.18 per 1,000 gallons. They now pay $3.78 per 1,000 gal lons. Alderman Bill Allen said Tuesday he expects the sewer rates to drop a few years after the expansion, once the town starts benefiting from resi dential and commercial growth. "I think over a period of time that would start to decrease rather than increase," Allen said. Town officials say the system ex pansion will open the door for a lot of residential and commercial devel opment. Several landowners in and around town have talked about de veloping once the project is com plete. "Our future's bright if we don't slip up," Alderman Carson Durham said. "We've got to get our sewer in and be ready for it." To expand the capacity, the town will have to construct a 24-acre stor age lagoon and a 1,500-gallon-per minute pump station, upgrade the chlorine feed system at the Forest Drive plant and add 170 acres of spray irrigation fields. Lee said the town will have to purchase land for the additional spray fields. Lease arrangements could not be worked out with the property owners, Federal Paper Board and International Paper Company. "Basically they're in the business of growing trees and they don't want to accept any more liability than they have to," Lee said. Cost estimates in the facilities plan are based on $1,200 per acre of land, but Lee said the price has not been determined. It will have to be negotiated with the paper compa nies. The town will continue accepting written comments on the facilities plan for the next 15 days. Aldermen plan to pass a resolution accepting the plan at a special meeting Sept 21. The design plans and loan appli cation must be submitted to the state by Sept. 30, I>ee said. In a related matter Tuesday, alder men voted to pay McKim & Creed an additional $4,000 for an engi neering evaluation of the existing sewer collection system and another $8,000 for a sewer system master plan. Engineers will develop a comput er hydraulic analysis of the waste water collection system and deter mine how the town can rcduce ils annual operation and maintenance costs. The master plan would determine the most effective methods of serv ing all areas inside the town and ex traterritorial area within a mile of Shallottc. Cheers voted against au thorizing the master plan. Lee said the system evaluation will be completed by the end of October, and the master plan by mid-November The $12,000 for both projects will be taken from the town's capital re serve fee/acreage fee fund. Other Business In other business Tuesday, alder men: ? Took no action on a proposed ordinance regulating vendors, ped dlers and sidewalk sales in the town and extraterritorial area. Aldermen plan to vote on the ordinance at their Sept. 20 meeting ? Voted to rezone Paula Stone's property at 221 Smith Avenue from Highway Business to R-10 (residen tial). Stone requested the change so the property can be sold. ? Voted to spend up to $1,000 for a copier for the police department ? Adopted a Planned Residential Development ordinance as recom mended by the planning board. ECONOMY 101 Come check out our huge selection of affordable homes ideal for a vacation or permanent residence. Service, selection & price wrapped up in one! CHOICEMTER UK ."W. s HOMES BY AN. . Hwy. 17 N.. Shallotte, 754-5147 Dust your heating and cooling comfort to us. "Hi friends, take it from Willard Scott: when it comes to your home's heating and cooling, your personal comfort depends as much on the person you work with as it does on having a good furnace or air conditioner That's why you should call your local Intertherm* dealer. He promises cap able personnel, honest product value, and efficient service Also, our Quality Card program provides easy financing, and qualified customers can get credit approval the same day! Paying for all your heating and cooling purchases in affordable monthly installments is real comfort! Call today!" liirrPTucoi/i MnTOftncniri Hucks Mechanical 754-2457 ? Reggie Hucks * NC 'uc #14977 Ask us aboutBEMC's 5% weatherization loan. solid waste currently being buried at the county landfill. The contract calls for the county to construct a new $700,000 transfer station and to pay BCH $37 a ton to haul off the waste. The board will be asked to approve the agreement, with minor changes, at its next meeting. ? Agreed to relax minimum lot size requirements in areas such as the Holden Beach causeway and the approaches to Cccan Isle Beach and Sunset Beach to allow businesses to operate with 75 feet of road frontage. The zoning law previously required a 100-foot lot size. ? Approved a revised county sign ordinance that Home called "more lenient and accommodating to busi nesses" than the original regulations included in the county zoning law. ? Heard a proposal from a Murrells Inlet, S.C. firm that wants to collcct fees for ambulance trans ports in the county in return for a percentage of the insurance reim bursements. The board named Com missioner Tom Rabon, County Man ager Wyman Yclton and Emergency Services Director Doug I x'dgett to a committee (hat will study the possi bility of charging fees for ambu lance service. ? Unanimously agreed to appoint seven members to a zoning overlay committee at the board's next meet ing The committee, with one repre sentative from cach district and two at-large members, will study and make recommendations about land use priorities throughout the county ? Hndorsed a letter of support for Town Creek Vision Corporation, a non-profit organization seeking state and federal grants to build a "multi purpose family resource center" for youth in northern Brunswick County. ? Adopted proclamations declar ing September as "Brunswick County Literacy Month, Sept. 24 as "Hunting and Fishing Day" and Sept. II as "911 Day" in North Carolina. This newspaper is printed on recycled paper! When you finish reading it, try to recycle it! THE BRUNSWICK#ftACON ZeNQ S Q\p.t>eN CTV>ir>cse jXcsrcvvi-rcvnzr LUNCH BUFFET Sunday-Friday 1 1-2:30 PM FAMILY NIGHT BUFFET! Monday-Saturday 4:30-9 PM Open 7 Days A Week For take-out call 754-5280 East Gate Square. Hoiaen Beach Road ? Shallotte 64*4*- L 4>As4*CC E. Second Street ? Ocean Isle Beach ? 579-0535 & (Beside Jungle Golf) WEDNESDAY and SUNDAY NIGHTS IARA0KE \ z ? with Winner of karaoke each night will receive A TRIP FOR TWO! 4 days, 3 nights. Winners will stay in the Princess Hotel & Casino in the Bahamas!! BREAKFAST SPECIAL 2 scrambled eggs, 2 strips of $922 bacon, grits or homefries & toast ^ (Served: M-F 6 AM-12 Noon) LUNCH SPECIAL Meat, vegetables, $Q50 bread, coffee or tea O (Served: M-F 11 AM-2 PM) NIGHTLY DINNER SPECIALS EVERY WEDNESDAY A.Y.C.E. Spaghetti-$2.99 Late Night Breakfast-Fri. and Sat. RAW BAR NIGHTLY 5-7 PM Steamed Crab Leg Steamed Peel n Eat Buffalo Oysters Cluster Clams Shrimp Wings 25* *2 35c ?. 15? LIVE BAND Friday & Saturday, Sept. 9-10 Welcome Shaggers! We have shag lessons every Thursday. [" present" raiscoupoN before'sept."^ ?94 for?. 10% OFF ALL HALF DOZEN DINNER ENTREES steamed oysters i No minimum per table. FRF F Drinks not indeed. ? ? ifc-fc
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Sept. 8, 1994, edition 1
6
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75