By Mark Wineka
mwineka@salisburypost.com
A Mikey’s convenience store is proposed for the corner of Mooresville Road and Sunset Drive.
Today, the Salisbury Planning Board will consider a request for a special-use permit to allow alcohol sales at the store/gas station. The board meets at 4 p.m. at City Hall, 217 S. Main St.
The city’s Land Development Ordinance says a general retail establishment of 3,500 square feet or less located in a Neighborhood Mix District requires a special-use permit to sell alcohol.
The size of the existing structure is 2,700 square feet. The location used to be the home of Classic Custom Automotive.
For approval, a request for a special-use permit must meet three standards:
– It satisfies the Land Development Ordinance “and is in harmony with the general purpose and intent and preserves its spirit.”
– The proposed plan “will be visually and functionally compatible to the surrounding area.”
– The public health, safety and welfare will be assured, “and the proposed development will not substantially injure the value of adjoining property and associated uses if located where proposed.”
The special-use process is quasi-judicial, meaning sworn testimony and evidence will be taken at today’s courtesy hearing and subsequent City Council meetings, if it goes that far.
A final approval would require a four-fifths majority of the council.
This address at 1035 Mooresville Road had its share of attention from the city over the years.
Zoning officers used to make drive-by inspections and personal visits and took photographs to make sure the former business, Classic Custom Automotive, was in zoning compliance.
Neighbors often complained of the many tow trucks, number of towed vehicles on the property and work at the repair shop going on during the evenings.
The owner eventually constructed a fence to hide the towed vehicles and agreed that no work would be done in the repair shop after 7 p.m.
In another matter today, the Planning Board will consider amending the Land Development district map to establish a conditional district overlay on 7 acres at 1811 E. Innes St., where the Rowan County Department of Social Services will be adding on and locating next to the existing Rowan County Health Department.