By Josh Bergeron
josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Rowan County commissioners on Monday will consider approving a measure that would extend hours for alcohol sales at some businesses.

Allowed by a state law referred to as the “brunch bill,” the changes would allow food service establishments to sell alcohol before noon on Sundays — 10 a.m. at the earliest. Earlier this summer, Salisbury, Kannapolis and Rockwell approved the changes, which are supported by the Rowan County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

If commissioners adopt the “brunch bill” changes, only Rowan County food service establishments located in unincorporated areas would be affected.

Before commissioners approve or decline to adopt the changes, however, they’ll hold a public hearing on the matter during the regularly scheduled 6 p.m. meeting, which will be held in the county administration building at 130 West Innes St.

If commissioners do not approve the changes unanimously on Monday, a second vote will be held. During that second vote, approval doesn’t need to be unanimous.

In a letter to commissioners, Convention and Visitor’s Bureau CEO James Meacham said there are hospitality businesses, such as wineries and vineyards, with a facility in a municipality and in an unincorporated area. Amie and Tommy Baudoin are examples of such a scenario. The couple operate Morgan Ridge Vineyards in the Gold Hill area and Morgan Ridge Railwalk in Salisbury.

“Allowing earlier Sunday alcohol sales will allow the hospitality industry to better meet guests’ needs, generate additional revenue and support jobs, all while helping to bring in additional tax dollars for local and state governments,” Meacham wrote in his letter to commissioners. “This change will help keep Rowan County competitive to destinations for business and leisure travel, while offering local citizens a greater variety of brunch venues.”

Meacham says allowing alcohol sales before noon would create a level playing field for Rowan County businesses.

“As cities and counties around the state continue to adopt these ordinances, please help keep Rowan County a competitive community by considering adopting the ‘brunch bill” ordinance and avoid Rowan businesses having an economic disadvantage against similar businesses in other communities across North Carolina,” Meacham wrote.

Included with his letter is a list of more than 100 communities — towns, cities and counties — that have adopted the “brunch bill” changes. Of those, 11 are counties.

In other business on Monday’s agenda:

• Commissioners will consider modifying a previous approval for a solar farm proposed by Duke Energy in western Rowan County.

The solar farm, proposed for the corner of Old US. 70 and N.C. 801, would be 6 megawatts and sit on 48 acres of land. In 2015, commissioners approved a solar farm with the same wattage on 26 acres.

Originally, Duke Energy says it hoped to open the solar farm by the end of 2016, but a logistical matter stalled approval, according to the company’s latest application.

The method in which the panels are installed is one significant difference between the previously approved solar farm and the latest proposal. The prior solar farm, like all others installed in Rowan County, who have been a fixed system. Meanwhile, the new proposal could be directed toward the sun to more efficiently absorb sunlight, according to Duke Energy’s latest proposal.

As a result of the rotating panels, a larger area could be be shaded than the panels approved in the prior proposal.

Other differences include doubling the required setback from 50 feet to 100 feet and proposing an evergreen screen along the project boundary.

In their report, Rowan County Planning Department staff wrote that the modified solar panels would probably not impact the surrounding area much differently than the prior request.

• Commissioners will consider approval of a 167-lot subdivision on Mooresville Road.

The subdivision was first approved in 2008 with 147 lots. The proposal being considered on Monday will be known as Yorkshire Farms, measure 206 acres and designed as a “cluster subdivision.”

It will be located on the 6800 block of Mooresville Road.

As a “cluster subdivision,” the development will feature a significant amount of open space — about 82 acres of the total number.

In order to approve the subdivision, county commissioners will need to OK a conditional use permit and planned development subdivision permit.

• As part of the consent agenda, commissioners will approve a request from Salisbury resident Ronnie Smith that proposes to place a temporary Vietnam veterans memorial at West End Plaza.

A site plan included with Monday’s agenda shows the temporary memorial sitting against the wall between the Rowan County Veterans Services office and Thelma’s Restaurant. There’s also a possible outside site next to the former J.C. Penney’s building.

In a letter to commissioners, Smith says he hopes to install the memorial on Nov. 11, which is Veterans Day.

• Commissioners will consider a conditional use permit for a 504-square-foot storage facility on a 5-acre tract of land on Lawing Drive in China Grove.

The structure would be used for “storage, a workshop, artistic expression, art painting, professional writing, songwriting and meditation,” an application states.

Contact associate editor Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.