By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
The public will get a chance to air its support or opposition to a proposed land-use plan April 20.
Proponents for farmland preservation are likely to square off against property-rights advocates and development interests.
The plan to cover western and southern areas of the county has been in the works for almost two years. The county Planning Board made major changes in the plan developed by the Land Use Steering Committee appointed by the Board of Commissioners in 2007.
Last October when commissioners were unable to muster majority support for any version of the plan,they opted to punt it to the board elected in November.
Carl Ford, chairman of the Rowan County Board of Commissioners, set the date for the hearing.
The hearing will be part of a regular commissioners’ meeting at the Cohen Administrative Offices Building.
Ford said speakers will be limited to three minutes each and anyone who wants to speak will be heard, regardless of how long the session runs.
Ford voted with Commissioners Tina Hall and Chad Mitchell to have the hearing on the land-use plan that was approved by the Rowan County Planning Board.
Two other commissioners, Vice Chairman Jon Barber and Raymond Coltrain favored going forward with the plan developed and approved by the Land Use Steering Committee. They contend that the committee, compromised of west Rowan residents, should have its version considered by commissioners.
The Planning Board deleted or revamped some of the Steering Committee proposals which would restrict or control development in farming areas.
Some members of the committee had suggested a prohibition of development in areas with the best soil for crops, but that recommendation was cut.
Ford favors the Planning Board version, which he maintains gives farmers greater freedom to do what they want to with their property ó farm, sell or develop it.
Both the Steering Committee and Planning Board versions were adopted on split votes.
Chris Cohen, who served as co-chairman of the Steering Committee, said Friday that he is hopeful commissioners will adopt a compromise version. “The farmland issues need to be addressed. The Planning Board took property rights to the extreme.”
“Our plan tried to consolidate residential development where infrastructure ó sewer and water ó current exists. … those areas are in a better position for development.
“Commissioners could have tweaked that plan, it wouldn’t have hurt my feelings,” Cohen said. He said the committee has been pushed aside and it will be up to the farmers and other residents of west Rowan “to speak what is on their minds and in their hearts.”