China Grove considers land use plan, truck travel restrictions

Published 12:10 am Monday, August 3, 2015

CHINA GROVE — The town board will consider two major policy measures — a land use plan and an ordinance to restrict weight for trucks on town roads — during its Tuesday meeting.

It’s the first time the town board has officially considered either item. For months, the China Grove Planning Board modified various details of the land use plan, which was drafted by the Centralina Council of Governments. The weight limit ordinance, drafted by town attorney Tom Brooke, arose from road damage associated with railroad construction.

The China Grove Town Board will discuss the land use plan during a workshop at 6 p.m., and the weight limit ordinance is scheduled to be considered during the board’s regularly scheduled 7 p.m. meeting. The planning workshop and regularly scheduled meeting will both be held at China Grove Town Hall, 333 N. Main Street.

China Grove’s land use plan is the first of its kind — the town hasn’t ever officially passed a land use plan. The plan examines and changes zoning classifications. It aims to set standards and goals for the town’s development until 2040.

The plan’s goals include: encouraging pedestrian trails and sidewalks, balancing residential growth, establishing downtown as a mixed-use area, enhancing the town’s parks and providing a healthy environment for a diverse mix of industry and business uses.

During Tuesday’s planning workshop, Planning Board Chairman Dave Morton and board member Rodney Phillips are scheduled to speak about the plan. A representative of the Centralina Council of Governments will also guide discussion, according to Tuesday’s agenda.

After wrapping up the planning workshop, the town board will have its regularly scheduled meeting. The meeting agenda includes a number of items, including the weight limit ordinance.

A draft version of the weight limit ordinance would allow trucks with more than three axles or two axles and a gross weight of more than 6,500 pounds to travel only on U.S. routes, state-maintained roads or Patterson Road.

The draft ordinance doesn’t designate any specific penalties pertaining to weight limit violations. Penalties for weight limit violations are classified as a general penalty, according to the town’s ordinances.

A general penalty includes a range of potential punishments — from a $50 fine to a misdemeanor charge.

If passed, the weight limit ordinance would become effective on Wednesday.

Other items scheduled for consideration during China Grove’s meeting include:

• Nominating a person to serve on the Rowan Works Economic Development board

• Approving a statewide mutual aid agreement

• Honoring China Grove Police Officer Reese Helms

• Honoring the China Grove 11U All Star Team, which won the Western NC Cal Ripken State Championship

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246