HOPE MILLS - The Hope Mills Board of Commissioners on Tuesday is scheduled to hold public hearings on several rezoning requests.
The board meets at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. The board is meeting Tuesday because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
The board is also expected to get an update on the public safety building from Scott Garner, the project architect.
The board is expected to hear a request to rezone 21 acres at 103 Tom Starling Road from M(P) Planned Industrial District (County) to M(P) Planned Industrial District (Town). The board voted to approve the voluntary annexation of the property last year and directed staff to initiate the initial zoning, according to a memo from Chancer McLaughlin, the planning and economic development director for Hope Mills. The staff is recommending approval of the rezoning request.
The board also will hear a request to rezone nearly 44 acres at 771 Chicken Foot Road from Al Agricultural District and C3 Heavy Commercial District (County) to R6 Residential District (Town). The board approved the voluntary annexation of the property last fall and directed staff to initiate the initial zoning, McLaughlin said in a memo to Town Manager Scott Meszaros. The staff is recommending approval of the request.
Residents who wish to speak at the hearings must sign up with the town clerk prior to the meeting.
The board also is expected to discuss CSX requirements related to insurance and signals at the Johnson Street rail crossing.
CSX requires the town to have a railroad protective policy declaration for $5 million, according to information in the agenda packet from Public Works Director Don Sisko. The North Carolina League of Municipalities, the town’s insurance carrier, cannot write a railroad protective policy declaration because it would be in the name of CSX Railroad, which is prohibited by the league bylaws, the agenda document states.
The town can obtain a policy specifically for this purpose from a local agent or ask the North Carolina League of Municipalities to remove its standard exclusion from the town’s policy for work within 50 feet of a railroad, the agenda document states. The town also could request coverage under the CSX umbrella policy, it states.
On the other matter, CSX has told town officials that work will be required to change the signals. The modifications will depend on the guidance provided by the town related to the previously approved one-way alignment of Johnson and Hill streets, the agenda document states.
Jason Canady covers Hope Mills for CityViewTODAY. He can be reached at jcanady@cityviewnc.com. Have a news tip? Email news@CityViewTODAY.com.
