By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
On a split vote, the Rowan County Board of Commissioners has agreed to go forward with the Planning Board version of a land-use plan for west Rowan.
Chairman Carl Ford will select a date for a hearing where the public will have its say on the land-use plan, which has been in the development stage for almost two years.
Commissioners Tina Hall and Chad Mitchell joined Ford in moving the Planning Board land-use plan forward. Vice Chairman Jon Barber and Commissioner Raymond Coltrain voted against.
The Planning Board version is more developer friendly than the Steering Committee version, which focused on protecting farmland and restricting development in prime agricultural areas of western and southern areas of the county.
At the board’s planning retreat last week, commissioners agreed to set a date for a work session on the plan, indicating they would look at both the Planning Board and Steering Committee versions and try to reach agreement.
Ford, who served on the Planning Board while the plan was under consideration, made clear he favors that version. He said once commissioners hear from the public, they will vote on the Planning Board version.
Ford said if the Planning Board version is voted down, the commissioners will consider other options.
Commissioner Raymond Coltrain objected to the proposal, citing the understanding that commissioners would have a session to discuss how they feel on the various elements of the plans.
Commissioner Chad Mitchell said that was the initial intent, adding that a lot of work has gone into the land-use plan, and the board should consider it.
“We need a middle-of-the-road approach,” Coltrain said.
Ford also noted he has an “unfair advantage” because he went to half the Steering Committee sessions and all of the Planning Board meetings.
During the retreat last week, Ford said he would support the Planning Board version.
The date of the hearing hasn’t been set.
Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254.