By Holly Fesperman LeeSalisbury Post
FAITH ó Developers won’t be able to gain approval for townhomes, apartment complexes or planned unit developments here for at least the next year.
Aldermen voted Tuesday to remove those types of uses from the town’s zoning ordinance for a minimum of one year to give the Planning Board time to revise the town’s zoning structure.
The board’s decision comes two months after residents voiced concerns about a townhome development set to go up in the Legion Club Road area.
Developer Mike Miri, also known as Hamid Ghomizadeh, is planning a 16-unit townhome complex with a clubhouse on 1.79 acres of land. When Miri applied, the area was zoned R3, which means it can be used for multi-family structures.
Aldermen explained to residents at the November meeting that the town’s ordinances allow Miri’s project and, legally, there’s nothing the board can do to stop it.
Also during the November meeting, aldermen voted to send the R2 and R3 zoning back to the Planning Board so members could look at adding, deleting or limiting multi-family uses in town.
When aldermen voted to remove the uses Tuesday, Mayor Bill Johnson said, “It isn’t that we’re opposed to townhouses, we just want them in the right place.”
Johnson said the board will put the uses back into the zoning ordinance but the zoning board will help determine the appropriate place.
The handful of residents who turned out for the public hearing on the matter seemed pleased by the action, but still upset about the current townhome development already in the works.
Johnson again explained that the board can’t legally do anything to stop Miri’s plans.
At the November meeting, board members and residents had a discussion with Miri about cleaning up the property.
Lisa Phelps, a Faith resident, said Tuesday that Miri still hasn’t cleaned up the mess.
Also during Tuesday’s meeting:
– Aldermen said they would like the Fourth of July Committee to help provide police protection in the park for the Faith Fourth celebration this year.
With the town’s budget and the length of time the celebration is expected to run this year, Johnson said the town simply can’t afford to cover the park as well as the area within the city limits.
Board members decided to send a letter to the committee about the matter.
– Aldermen voted to spend about $8,000 to replace obsolete parts in the system that controls the town wells.
Contact Holly Lee at 704-797-7683 or hlee@salisburypost.com.