By Emily Ford
eford@salisburypost.com
Officials were red faced Tuesday when the Salisbury Planning Board could not convene for lack of a quorum.
Nearly 50 people had gathered at City Hall for the meeting, where the Planning Board was supposed to consider Rowan Regional Medical Centerís request to develop a hospice facility on Statesville Boulevard.
The agenda included three other rezoning requests.
City Planner Preston Mitchell apologized and said this was the first time in his six years with the city that Planning Board couldnít muster a quorum.
ěYou have taken your time and money and energy to come here today,î Mitchell said as he apologized.
The board needs seven members to convene, but only six showed up. Mitchell said two members were out of town, one had a sick child and others had conflicts. There are 12 members on the board.
Mitchell polled the audience and determined the meeting will be rescheduled for either 3 p.m. Friday or 4 p.m. Monday. The Salisbury Post will publish the new date and time when they are determined.
ěIt was unfortunate, but these things happen,î said John Whitfield, who with his wife D.J. Whitfield had planned to speak in favor of the 14-bed hospice facility, which would adjoin their property.
The proposed 15,287-square-foot building would stand at 1229 Statesville Blvd., on the south side of the street and across from the intersection with Meadowbrook Road.
The hospital will request an amendment to the cityís Land Development Ordinance & Land Development District Map by rezoning approximately six acres to amend an existing Conditional District Overlay, permitting the development the facility.
Planning Board also was supposed to hear district map amendments requested by the following:
Penny and Terry Sides, to rezone a half-acre at 601 Faith Road from Urban Residential to Residential Mixed-Use.
City of Salisbury, to rezone 17 acres, or 15 parcels, along multiple streets west of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue from General Residential and Corridor Mixed-Use to Light Industrial.
Jake Alexander/A&H Investments Inc., to rezone .86 acres at 825 E. Liberty St. from Urban residential to Corridor Mixed-Use.
Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.