Five new members of the board took office Monday night to serve three-year terms.

The new members joined holdovers in re-electing John Linker as chairman and Bill Yow as vice-chairman.

Linker is a former mayor of Granite Quarry. Both Linker and Yow are in their second term on the board.

The board and county planning staff honored outgoing members, including Marilyn Chambers and Mike Sherman.

Both were presented plaques.

New board members including Kenny Smith, Greg Childs, Arthur Steinburg, Ann Furr and Edwin Hammill attended an introductory session prior to the board meeting.

County Planner Marion Lytle outlined the work of the Planning Department and the duties and responsibilities of the Planning Board members.

Lytle gave the new members a briefing on key issues and areas that they will likely deal with.

During the board meeting, the new members expressed their interest in trying to make good choices for the county and help manage growth.

The board conducted two public hearings and gave favorable recommendations to two rezoning requests.

In the first request, the board endorsed rezoning part of a 10-acre tract at 4100 N.C. 152 W. to allow construction of a residence.

The property, owned by Harrill S. Wiggins Jr., was zoned commercial-business -industry. Wiggins sought and received a change to rural agricultural to allow construction of a home.

In the second matter, the board agreed to a request to allow a single-wide mobile home on a 10.5- acre tract off Reeves Island Road.

The board recommended changing the zoning from rural agricultural to mobile home. The board specified that they could place only one mobile home on the lot.

Both recommendations will go to the county commissioners for final action.

The Planning Board also got a brief update on the I-85 corridor study now under way by the Planning Department.