By Shavonne Potts
Salisbury Post
LANDIS ó The Board of Aldermen unanimously gave its approval to issuing more than $6 million in water and sewer bonds.
The board made the decision at its Monday meeting to authorize $4.5 million for water and $2.2 million for wastewater.
The bonds are to be used to improve the aging water system. Many of the improvements are government mandated.
According to the proposal, the taxes should be imposed in an “amount sufficient to pay the principal” of the bonds.
Although the board has discussed the need for bonds to implement the improvements to the sewer system, it is ultimately up to the people if the town will proceed with the bonds. This can only take effect when and if the voters approve of a referendum during the November election.
There will be a public hearing for residents to speak on this issue Sept. 10, next month’s meeting.
The board also approved several zoning requests. These requests will bring in new businesses to the town as well as needed revenue, a factor those who spoke indicated as a plus.
The board:
– Approved allowing Tim Burchette, owner of Burchette Properties in Salisbury, to rezone about 6 acres located on U.S. 29 adjacent to the Twin Oaks subdivision, from single-family residential to general business.
He said at the June meeting he hopes to bring a coffee shop, pharmacy and possibly CiCi’s Pizza to a strip mall he intends to build.
No one spoke in favor of or in opposition to the rezoning during a public hearing.
Burchette will also have to check with the N.C. Department of Transportation on the possibility of another turn lane and other traffic control considerations, as per a conditional use permit.
– Approved allowing China Grove resident Rick Register a conditional use permit to build a shopping center in the 100 block of West Ryder Avenue.
Since the parcel is general business, there is no requirement to rezone. Some of those conditions include that hours of operation should be from 6 a.m.-12 a.m., no businesses should be allowed to create a loud and disruptive noise (a problem the town has had recently with one business) and the developer should use earth tones to blend in with the downtown business district.
No one spoke in favor of or in opposition during the public hearing portion of the meeting.
– Approved a public hearing at next month’s meeting for residents’ opinions on a request from Ben and Lee Kimball, who want to build mini-storage units at Kimball Road.
Town planner Shelley Williamson explained that the current zoning is single-family residential and the Kimballs want to rezone it to neighborhood business.
The property is bordered by China Grove city limits and fronts Kimball Road near Food Lion on South Main Street.
The only concern from the board was that this area is a high traffic area because it is located near South Rowan High and the library.
Ben Kimball spoke during citizens’ comments time about inquiries into the proposed 79-unit facility.
He said he intended to construct a brick building that was shielded and set back from the road. His goal was to generate revenue for the town.
He was told to save further comments for the public hearing in September.
– Approved a request from South Rowan High School and South Rowan YMCA to create a walk/run trail around the YMCA and eventually Lake Corriher.
Robert Marchinko, head cross country and track coach at South Rowan High School, first approached the board at its May meeting about the trail.
The YMCA owns part of the land and supports building the trail. The town also owns part of the property.
The trail will be used not only by the high school track team, but also by any citizen.
– Adopted voluntary water conservation as requested by Kannapolis.
The board changed its next meeting because of the Labor Day holiday. It will meet Sept. 10.
Contact Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253 or spotts@salisburypost.com.