EAST SPENCER — Questions still remain, but the East Spencer town board Monday approved a rezoning request for a parcel of land behind the former Dunbar Center at Broad and Washington streets. The approval came with one dissenting vote.

The 6.64-acre property is what was the former Dunbar School softball and football fields. The request was to rezone the land from single-family (Residential 1) to office and institutional. A hearing was held by the town Planning Board on Feb. 5 where representatives of Paul L. Dunbar Group made the request.

The proposed land use is for a charter school to be named Essie Kaiser Foxx Charter School. Future development of adjacent property, which was not part of the rezoning, will be mixed use.

The Planning Board decided that given the size of the parcel and its location in what is already land zoned office/institutional, the rezoning request appeared to be consistent with long-term development strategies for the town’s neighborhood planning area.

The building that once housed the school is already zoned office/institutional. The Planning Board voted in favor of the request.

All town board members voted in favor of the rezoning request at Monday night’s public hearing except Mayor Pro tem Curtis Cowan. Cowan said he is in favor of the possibility of a charter school but he could not in good conscience vote ifor a plan that leaves him with more questions. He pointed to a presentation at last month’s meeting in which a representative spoke about obtaining a different parcel in the same area as the future location for the charter school.

He said there’s just not enough known about the plan to persuade him to vote in favor.

“It don’t sit right with me,” Cowan said.

Real estate agent Keya Rustin asked how it was possible to make a rezoning request on property that one doesn’t own. It is not clear which property owner Rustin represents, but there are a number of owners of property around the Dunbar Center along Broad and Washington streets.

“Do you get permission from the owners?” Rustin asked.

Town Planner Joe Morris explained that state law says that a third-party rezoning request is allowed.

Rustin left the meeting before the board approved the rezoning.

Morris later said the town sent notices when the request was made to property owners within 100 feet of the perimeter of the property in question, ran a notice in the Salisbury Post, placed a sign on the property about the request and sent letters to property owners. He said that is what the town is required to do by law.

Once rezoned, the permitted property uses could include a beauty college or barbershop, a museum, dance studio, church, private club, private school, public buildings and facilities, which Morris said include a charter school.

The owners of the ball fields are Noble Field LLC and Pledger Anderson Jr., according to county tax records. Anderson co-owns other parcels in the area with his wife, Bertha Anderson.

Robin Whitehurst, who said she represents investors from Forever Yours Transportation LLC, said during the public hearing that the purpose is for a charter school/education hub and science center.

There are a total of 15 acres, but those with vested interests plan to start with the 6.64 acres, she said.

Salisbury-Rowan NAACP President Gemale Black said the organization was in favor of the rezoning request.

“It’s a good look for East Spencer and could possibly bring national attention,” he said.

Mayor Barbara Mallett asked when the process will begin.

Whitehurst said the investors wanted to make sure the land was zoned for what they want to do. No timeline was given.

Morris said he understands the property is under contract to be purchased. The question of ownership has been presented to him, he added.

The board heard from Jonathan Pullin, who will be principal of the charter school.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to grow. We are going to do something wonderful here. Give me 12 months; I guarantee you will see academic growth,” Pullin said.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.