BY DEBBIE PAGE

The Troutman Planning & Zoning Board gave the green light on Monday to two new light industrial rezoning requests to add more economic development potential and job opportunities to the area.

HOUSTON ROAD

Jabula Properties requested the rezoning of 3.5 acres at 269 Houston Road, after proposed annexation, from Iredell County general business to Town of Troutman light industrial.

Town Planner Lynne Hair said that the property, with a new building on the site built under county ordinances, will be considered for annexation in October by the Town Council in order to access town utilities.

No site plan was submitted for this traditional rezoning request. Because much of the surrounding area is zoned heavy industrial and industrial uses are prescribed for the area on the Future Land Use Map, Hair asked that the board recommend the rezoning to the Town Council.

After one board member wanted to impose larger buffers, Hair reminded the board that the town cannot require existing buildings to meet town the UDO, but she assured them that at least a 20-foot buffer exists.

The board voted unanimously to recommend the rezoning request.

IREDELL AVENUE

Leon Bouwens, builder of the already approved 45-acre North Fork Business Park, requested that the board recommend rezoning of 42 acres adjoining the property from suburban residential to light industrial after proposed annexation into the town.

The request for rezoning the property, currently owned by Mark and Leigh Ann Payne, is a traditional case that requires no site plan. The parcel has mixed use zoning (Wakefield) to the north, heavy industrial to the west, and a residential property to the east.

Hair said the Future Land Use Map designates the area for employment center-light industrial uses. She also noted a stub out connection from the Wakefield area to this proposed site.

In response to concerns raised by board member Mark Taylor, Hair said a revised traffic impact study will be required and reviewed by staff if the annexation and rezoning are approved for this addition to the North Fork project. Water and sewer connections will be worked out by the town as well.

Real estate agent Sam Barnette, representing Bouwens, said the request to build only light industrial facilities on the property was in deference to nearby residential neighbors’ concerns.

Neighbor Jessica Williams was the only speaker at the public hearing. She pointed out the increased traffic from the over 80-acre park if the annexation and rezoning are approved. She also warned that neighbors were united in not giving up any property for right-of-way needs for utilities for the business park.

After the public hearing closed, Chair Randy Farmer asked for a motion, but the board remained silent for nearly two minutes. Taylor asked for the discussion to be reopened, explaining his mixed feelings on the project.

Taylor acknowledged the right of property owners to do what they wanted with their property, the industrial development in the area, and the Future Land Use Map’s industrial vision for the area.

He hoped that required setbacks and ordinances would protect the nearby residential neighbors.

After expressing his concerns, Taylor made a motion to recommend rezoning the property to light industrial, which passed 4-1, with Daryl Hall dissenting.

AUTUMN LEAF ROAD PROJECT

Town officials also announced on Wednesday that the MI Homes and Sterling Property request to rezone a 50-acre tract to conditional mixed residential for 77 single family homes off Autumn Leaf Road has been withdrawn by the applicant. The public hearing scheduled for the October 12 Town Council meeting has been canceled.

After an outpouring of criticism by neighbors in the Quail Haven subdivision, the Planning and Zoning Board unanimously denied recommending rezoning for the project in August.