BY DEBBIE PAGE
The Troutman Town Council on Monday asked staff for an update on the Mad Monkey Garage building, where the tenant had a mural painted without the building owners’ permission. The mural does not comply with the town’s Unified Development Ordinance and zoning regulations.
In September, the council denied business owner James Amico’s request for a text amendment to allow murals in heavy industrial zoning areas to bring his mural into zoning compliance. Council members expressed concerns about the change, which would allow approximately 40 percent more of the town’s commercial and industrial property owners to add murals with no control on their content.
Town Manager Ron Wyatt told council members in September that the town’s code enforcement officer informed Amico and the artist that the mural was not allowed due to the property’s zoning while the mural installation was in process, but Amico and the artist chose to complete the project anyway.
The building owners were also supportive of the town’s position on the mural and were upset the mural was installed, according to Wyatt.
Town Planner Lynne Hair told the council Monday that Amico initially threatened legal action last fall through a Board of Adjustment appeal proceeding, but after learning of the legal expenses and lengthy process, Amico no longer wants to pursue that route.
Hair is now working with the owner to bring the property into compliance by resizing and reworking the mural to meet town sign regulations for HI zoning areas.
Daily fines of $100 are continuing to be imposed on Amico and the building owners after the business’s failure to remove the mural. Currently, fines total approximately $4,000.
The council discussed pausing the fines while the owner works with the town but decided doing so would set a poor precedent. If the mural is made compliant to town ordinances, the council could decide to reduce or rescind the fines at that time, if the staff recommends it.
REMOTE MEETING PARTICIPATION
Council member Eddie Nau asked Wyatt to seek clarification of a remote voting policy for town council members from the UNC School of Government. Wyatt and Town Attorney Gary Thomas have interpreted the state statute differently, and Nau wants clarification by an expert third party to guide the council’s policy on remote participation.
Nau also asked that a visible timer be installed for fairness in timing public comments during council meetings and public hearings.
LOBBYING EFFORTS
After personal appeals in Raleigh yielded the town millions in state funds last year, Mayor Pro Tem Jerry Oxsher asked Mayor Teross Young and Wyatt if efforts to advocate for Troutman will continue in 2024.
In November, N.C. Sen. Vickie Sawyer and Reps. Grey Mills and Jeff McNeely appeared at the Troutman Town Council meeting to present a symbolic check for $14 million to the town for infrastructure improvements.
Mayor Teross Young, former council member George Harris, council member Nau, and Wyatt worked throughout 2023 to present Troutman’s needs to elected officials in trips to Raleigh and through frequent contacts with them at local events and meetings.
Wyatt assured Oxsher that plans were underway to maintain close communication with state representatives to present Troutman’s needs.
UPCOMING THURSDAY NIGHT
The council will consider:
♦ Approval to renew an agreement with DebtBook for a two-year period at a cost of $9,000 the first year and $11,000 for the second.
♦ Granting an easement to Duke Energy Corporation (DEC).
♦ Setting public hearings for annexation requests for February 8 for nearly 10 acres at 1250 Charlotte Highway by CZC Land Development, nearly 8 acres at 1270 Charlotte Highway by the Town of Troutman ABC Board, and 19.5 acres off Byers Road by BBC Rocky Creek, LLC.
The council will also recognize:
♦ Cameron Jones as “Town of Troutman Employee of the Month” for November.
♦ Darin Yoder as “Town of Troutman Employee of the Month” for December’
♦The “Town of Troutman Employee of the Year.”
♦Wrestling Coach Bill Mayhew in honor of his extraordinary coaching career.
♦ The Antrican-Smith family for their community service for repairing vandalism to Christmas decorations along the greenway north of the Food Lion shopping center.