By Mark Wineka

mwineka@salisburypost.com

Hendrix Barbecue on U.S. 70 wants to enlarge its conditional district zoning and construct a driveway that will connect its parking lot to Ashbrook Road.

The restaurant's access to Ashbrook Road has been a point of debate for several years, especially with residents of the Westcliffe subdivision.

Salisbury City Council will consider Hendrix Barbecue's request and hold a public hearing Tuesday.

The council meets at 4 p.m. at City Hall, 217 S. Main St.

Ashbrook Road leads into Westcliffe.

In 2003, some members of the Westcliffe homeowners association opposed construction of the restaurant's additional parking on a vacant lot at U.S. 70 and Ashbrook Road. Other members voted to allow the parking lot but did not want it to have access to Ashbrook Road.

Other Westcliffe residents favored both the additional parking and access drive.

The majority who opposed the connection to Ashbrook Road cited safety concerns, describing how busy this entrance to and exit from Westcliffe already is.

The council approved the previous "special" zoning district with a condition that there not be permanent access to Ashbrook Road. At the N.C. Department of Transportation's request, a temporary connection was allowed during the widening of U.S. 70 in front of the restaurant.

In 2006, the council asked the Department of Transportation to remove the temporary driveway when the construction project was finished.

In June, the Salisbury Planning Board voted unanimously for Hendrix's conditional district overlay request and a parking lot access to Ashbrook Road.

In other agenda items Tuesday, the council will:

- Receive an update on the city-owned Price High School building.

- Consider a request to close sidewalks and street lanes during Piedmont Players' construction of a children's theater at Fisher and Lee streets.

- Consider an application for a $10,239 Justice Assistance Grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance.

- Consider closing South Old Main Street to Main Street and A Avenue from 8:45 to 10:30 a.m. Sept. 11 for the annual 9/11 Memorial Service.

- Recognize youth initiatives including Project SAFE Neighborhood Family Day, Healthy Parenting Committee's healthy family videos and a Rowan-Salisbury Schools' Safe Schools/Healthy Students grant.

- Hear a presentation from Lutheran Services for the Aging regarding its 2007-2008 Community Stewardship Report.

Council meetings are streamed live at www.salisburync.gov/council/webcast.html and shown later on Time Warner Cable's ACCESS 16.

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